Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
I’m a multidisciplinary artist who makes soft (toy) sculptures. I live in London but otherwise spend most my time on trying to remove myself from the noise. I’m usually in nature, on YouTube, with loved ones, or recently drawing.
Are there any influences that are core to your work?
The spectrum of care is my core influence.
Your project, Bears Who Care, reworks found stuffed animals to create original soft sculptures. What initially drew you to working with stuffed animals? Do you have a typical process for creating these works? Are there certain themes or ideas you consider when reworking the stuffed animals?
I was initially drawn to working with a material that only puts good into the world that I can control from my room or wherever I am. Process is make a coffee, get music or a film on, some incense and cosy clothes, good food in the fridge, and get to work.
Theme wise, yes: injury, wear, abandonment, cuteness, and a bit of camp energy.
When sourcing material for a new work, do you gather what you come across in person or do you search online?
Both, its mostly eBay but I’ll often head to the woods or places where there’s trash on the roads for material.
How has your residency at the Sarabande Foundation impacted your practice?
It let my world breathe and allowed me space to show audiences how I see my bears, this was in ’The Vigil’.
Do you consider the reception of your work while you are making it?
Always firstly I make for me only, and then I kinda have my own reception of it, and then I’ll consider the reception of the work. It’s the meeting of both when I know it’s a strong work.
What are you interested in exploring further in your work? Are there any new materials that you are interested in using?
Blankets and storybooks
What’s your studio like? Do you have any rituals when you settle in there?
Currently it’s an air bnb as I left my studio late last year & my flats having work done. So it’s an evolving space :’)
How do you manage tending to the variety of responsibilities in the work you do? How do you mitigate burnout or exhaustion?
I sometimes do, I sometimes don’t. I always try to go to the woods, get out of London with my boyfriend, and then I always end up going out for drinks.
What is your experience as a photographer and video editor? Does this side of your creative life influence your soft sculpture practice in any way?
I was solely part of a fashion photography duo for around 5 years, as my career was expanding I had to slow it down and make it work for me, which was tough but turned out for the better. These mediums still come up in my storytelling. They also help make the documentation of my artwork more controlled and cheaper.
My rituals are comfy clothes, a onesie usually. A movie or a podcast. Some coffee and an incense or a candle. All my stuff I’ll need in a shrine-like set up around me.
How does your creative community now compare to your creative community when you were younger?
My GCSE art classroom was pure and fun. Now it’s the same it’s just way more vast, and bigger.
Is there a moment you look back on as being formative to your identity as an artist?
When I discovered Maya Angelou, her name came up in passing from my best friend Sam and randomly it stuck. And I deep dived, I’m so glad I did and do that.
What is something you want to see more of in your world or in your community?
Money, sun and more sparkle
