Kendal Torchlight

2016 - 22 “By the People. For the People”

Kendal Torchlight started in 1970 and is still a highly anticipated yearly event which takes over the town every autumn. Throughout the summer, free community carnival art workshops are held in the shopping centre, schools, community centres on the four housing estates and with Kendal College. 

I love being one of the Creative Crew, we get to design, make and run workshops to create large-scale procession lanterns and walk-about puppets. People come together to develop new skills and confidence as they create lanterns, procession puppets, installation sculptures, site decor and costumes. My annual involvement in Kendal Torchlight keeps me connected with my local community through the art of creative participation. For example, parading their wonderful carnival lanterns and costumes groups like Lakes Ambition, young adults with learning disabilities, who are often more marginalised can enjoy being centre stage in their town's community celebration. 

Funded by National Lottery Heritage, Cumbria County Council, Kendal Town Council, South Lakeland District Council, Kendal BID and Great Place Lakes & Dales.

Sedburgh Sheepfest

2014 - 2017

Sheepfest, is an annual celebration of Sedbergh’s past, present and future as a wool town. Held during National Heritage Weekend, and supported by the arts venue Farfield Mill.

 A Sheep Trail of 100 uniquely crafted sheep created by the town's shop owners, residents and organisations are displayed throughout the area. It was a lot of fun facilitating sheep-making workshops in The People’s Hall for families, voluntary organisations and most of the town’s businesses. I loved the on site sheep making with business owners and their families e.g. in the Ironmongers, the Black Bull and Red Lion. One of the most memorable was making a wonderfully realistic ewe with the vicar for the church pulpit.

Each year the trail had a theme and the sheep were full of humour, charm and character, reflecting the energy and spirit of the people of Sedbergh coming together for this unique celebration. In 2015, our sheepdragon was the centrepiece of the event celebrating the Chinese Year of the Sheep.

Commissioned by Farfield Mill. Funded by Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, National Park Authority Sustainable Development Fund, Cumbria County Council and the South Lakes District Council.

Celebrate Youth

2006-07

I enjoyed working with the young people from a rural and socially isolated community to explore and produce artwork about being a young person in Cumbria. The Langdale community often gets cut off due to winter conditions and poor public transport. We had fun and experimented with spray paints, body art, print and made bike art with bike parts. The latter engaged some of the harder to reach young people who preferred to do impressive bike stunts outside the village hall where we met. We painted canvases whilst having conversations about rural life, what was hard, what there was to celebrate and how.

I worked with young people aged 13-17yrs at the Langdale Youth Club. The celebratory event to meet other rural groups, enjoy performances by young bands and see their art exhibition was held at The Brewery Arts Centre. 

Commissioned by Young Cumbria, Youth Work In Cumbria Partnership.
Funded and supported by Arts Council England, Art Locates Me, Connexions, Cumbria County Council and South Lakes District Council