Portfolio

Artists Statement

Being out in the landscape is fundamental to my practice. The direct experience of raw, elemental environments deeply informs my work. I am inspired by exploring the natural world through walking and by the sciences of palaeontology, geology, and ecology all offering different but complementary understandings of place. These interactions with the land shape the way I see and interpret the spaces I move through, and I aim to reflect this in my work. I also enjoy sharing these experiences through my socially engaged practice, working with both groups and individuals and through making watercolours.

Appuldurcombe House

Current project “Landed” commission at Appuldurcombe House, as part of Can You Hear Us, an islandwide celebration of island culture 2026

Find out more about that project here https://isleofwight-nl.org.uk/2026/02/02/landscape-art-commissions-awarded-artists-announced/

Making an Island

Stills from a current film project by  film maker Dominika Baerova who works between the UK and Slovakia. This film explores my relationship to the island as an artist and how I interact an incorporate it into my work. Find out more about Dominika here https://www.dominikabaerova.com

Mural painting and documentation

East Cowes Conservation and Innovation mural

Painter, Documentation and film maker for East Cowes Conservation and innovation mural,

working with lead artist Alice Malia.

Sheltered Appley seafront mural project.

Painter, Documentation and film maker for Sheltered Appley seafront mural project.

working with lead artists Alice Malia & Laura Hatherway

Between the Sea and the Sky

A solo exhibition at Quay Arts Isle of Wight sharing some of the outcomes of my DYCP (developing your creative practice) funded by the arts council. this focused on the Isle of Wight Geology and surrounding landscape. 

I’ve developed local sediments into artists pigments and artists materials. The pigments were foraged along the coastline of the Island and carefully recorded using geological guides, these are processed ready to be transformed into materials and then artworks. 

This has led on to me creating my own artisan watercolour line using artists pigments inspired by the Island landscapes which retails online and in several local shops – fins out more here https://wightpaint.co.uk

View of exhibition
pigment samples
samples of bisque with island pigment slip
view of exhibition including oil paintings created using Island pigments

Isle of Wight Geology as Artist material (DYCP)

South Wight - photograph by Maria Bell
Sharing project findings at Earths Canvas conference, Burlington House
Handmade watercolour from lignite - photography by Maria Bell
Handmade watercolour from lignite - photography by Maria Bell
collected materials and processed pigments- photography by Maria Bell
Handmade pot with island pigment as coloured slip photography by Maria Bell

Musician Richard Walters was inspired by this paint making and wrote the song Wight Paint as part of his solent seascapes residency after we met along apply sealant, you can listen to the song on all players. Find out more about the project and local marine conservation here:

https://solentseascape.com/songs-from-the-solent-released/ 

 

Initial pigment investigations

The beginning of my research into local pigments found in the rich geology of the Isle of Wight. With further investigation into material making from found and processed pigments. 

Wealden beds
Pigment gathering in the Wealden beds
Wealden clay grinding
Initial wax crayon making
Melted wax and pigments in moulds
Testing the first wax crayons
Pigment foraging - Ryde Formation
Paint mulling
Early paint experiments
Initial paint making
Initial paint swatches
Experiments and book on exhibition at Quay Arts

Creative Biosphere - Artists Residency

A year long artist residency in a school working with cultural Partner Independent Arts. Together we creatively explored the biosphere reserve status of the Isle of Wight. We had three exhibitions throughout the project along with a legacy final piece, a 4 ton carved stone. 

ACE funded project in partnership with AONB, the Island Collection and IWCEP.

The stone with marks of explorations by myself and the students
Carving into the final piece
Rubble as part of exhibit
cabinet from interim exhibition of project.
Close up of "Time"
Time, instillation of negatives and cyanotypes documenting the biosphere reserve
Close up of wire stone
Close up of "Time"
Creative Biosphere final exhibition work and my curation
Curation of final exhibition

Hear Her Voice

A short film created by Neoteric Dance company where I created five small figurative wire sculptures for use in the film. An ACE Funded project .

Works inspired by the landscape

Drawings and works inspired by the landscape, particularly the geology and palaeontology found on the Isle of Wight.

Atherfield - Photograph 2023
Cliff Drawing - Coloured pencil

Working in palaeontology with scientists

Works inspired by the world of palaeontology, this journey through prehistory and place inspires most of my work. 

This includes working collaboratively with places such as Dinosaur Isle Museum and Southampton University. 

Edited and co-authored book with Dinosaur Isle Museum sharing the fossils of the Isle of Wight
New species reconstruction working with southampton university
Commission for museum doors
Specimen drawing of a new species I helped excavate - with thanks to Dinosaur Isle Museum
Drawing of my personal finds
Specimen drawing once conservation and preparation were complete - With thanks to Dinosaur Isle Museum

Sample of Other Commissions and projects

Creative Chronicle
Wight Paint - Handmade watercolours inspired by the landscape
Drawing from Through Her Eyes - Neoteric dance company ACE project.
My Boots - Personal project

Projects, Commissions & Exhibitions

Exhibitions & Works

2025 | Making an Island, collaborative film with Dominka Baerova – current 

2025 | Open Studios exhibition – Quay Arts,  Pod I & Edges of a Landscape 

2025 | Documentation – mural Appley Seafront – current

2024 | Solo Exhibition Between the Sea and the Sky, & artist talk Quay Arts Isle of Wight

2024 | Speaker at Earths Canvas conference Geological society Burlington house

2024 | DYCP – Island pigments as artist material 

2024 | Diverse Capacities Southampton University, exhibition of works.

2024 | Documentation and film maker for East Cowes Conservation and innovation mural. 

2024 | Painter of the East Cowes Conservation and innovation mural

2023 | DYCP – arts council funded project, Island pigments

2023 | Diverse Capacities Southampton University

2023 | AONB- Prospectus design

2022 | Creative Biosphere Exhibition, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight 

2021 | Dinosaur Isle in 101 Fossils- designer & illustrator 

2021 | Palaeo Doors – design and painting – Dinosaur Isle museum Isle of Wight 

2021 | The Landscape of Fossil Hunting – short film – shown at the Geological Society conference

2020 | Vectaerovenator inpopunatis – reconstruction, working with southampton university. 

2020 | Looking out from lockdown – curator and designer digital work ,  Independent Arts 

2020 | Islesolation gallery – curator and designer digital work,  Independent Arts 

2020 | Notable Newport – designer and painter, public work ,  Independent Arts Isle of Wight

2020 | Island Heritage colouring book – Illustrator & Designer,  Independent Arts Isle of Wight

2020 | Creative Chronicle 4 issues  – Illustrator and Designer,  Independent Arts 

2019 | Through Her Eyes – drawings as part of a film and dance project, Bristol, Neoteric Dance company 

2018 | More questions than answers – MA show Chichester University

2017 | 33 – BA show University of Chichester

Residency 

2026 Artist in residence Appuldurcombe House, Isle of Wight

2021 – 2022 Creative Biosphere year long artists residency, Isle of Wight

Community & Projects

2026 | Ceramics technician – Quay Arts, (ongoing) 

2026 | mens mental health group pottery course – Independent Arts – Quay Arts pottery

2025 | Ceramics technician – Quay Arts, (ongoing) 

2024 | Workshop delivery for John Hansard Gallery as part of “A Pocket Full of Sand” 

2024 | Workshop delivery for Quay Arts 

2024 | Perspective, photography project with Artworks & Iow Youth Justice Service

2024 | Workshop delivery for National Landscapes IOW

2024 | Creative practitioner – Independent Arts IOW

2024 | Ceramics technician – Quay Arts, (ongoing) 

2023 | Blue Plaques Project – ran workshops to create works and curated exhibition, Independent Arts Isle of Wight 

2023 | Wavelength – delivery in ACE funded arts and science project with Independent Arts

2023 | Creative Club, Young peoples arts award program- programming and delivery

2023 | Young creatives, young peoples art education- program and delivery

2023 | Supporting Young Minds, Independent Arts – delivering Arts Award sessions.

2023 | Mindful Moments, delivering and programming workshops supporting wellbeing through creativity. 

2022 | Creative Biosphere Exhibition  – ran workshops to create works and curated our area of the exhibition, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight 

2022 | First Marks Exhibition – ran workshops to create works and curated exhibition, Independent Arts Isle of Wight 

2022 | Reconnect- creative practitioner,  Independent Arts Isle of Wight,

2022 | Creative Club, Young peoples arts award program- program and delivery

2022 | Young creatives, young peoples art education- program and delivery

2021 | Picture play – delivery of arts sessions to young children, Independent Arts.

2019 | Portfolio – art and mental health project, Independent Arts Isle of Wight

2019 | Celebrating age – ran creative workshops in residential homes to create works.

2019 | Mindfullness and soulfulness exhibit –  assisted curation and ran workshops in residential homes to create works.