The inspiration for my work comes from a love of drawing life around me, capturing fleeting moments of passers-by going about their daily lives and routines. The work evolves through a series of stages transforming rough sketches into distinctive hand made prints with rich velvety tones contrasting with fine drypoint lines. To satisfy my own curiosity I constantly seek information and inspiration by researching subjects and gathering ephemera. I endeavour to create something in which the viewer becomes curious and involved. The plate from which the images are printed are re-used and re-worked in a final voyage of experimentation until each image is finally exhausted. Music, words, mood or even the weather can change the path of a single piece or series of work.

Charlotte Salomon’s ‘Life or Theatre?’ in which the text and pictures are read like a diary, ‘The Diary of Frida Kahlo’ and my training as an illustrator have all played an active role in influencing my work, particularly the narrative and sequential elements. Other major influences are Charles Shearer, a printmaker and illustrator from the Orkney Islands, David Hockney and Elizabeth Blackadder.

The inspiration for my most recent series of work, ‘Ground Level’ came from a comparison of dance with the movement of organic vegetation in a local allotment. I loved the way in which the vegetation twisted and curled into one another and was struck by the inventive use of CD’s and plastic bottles used for scarecrows.

.I am a a member of IFL (Institute for Learning), CIN (Creative Industries Network),Creative Greenhouse and a-n. I have created illustration work for Derby City Council, The University of Derby, Derby Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Fairytale Magazine.

My new series of work was created for for an exhibition at the new Derby Royal Hospital. On from March 2010 to September 2010.

Education

2000 - 2006 BA (First Class Honours) Illustration, University of Derby

2006 Delivering Learning Stage 3, 7302/02, Derby College

2004 -2006 OCN Printmaking and Bookmaking, Chesterfield College

1998 - 2000 BTec Foundation in Art and Design, Chesterfield College

Prizes and Awards

2008 Caran D'ache Award, Patchings Open

2006 Tony Wilkinson Award,Thoresby Open

2006 Daler and Rowney Award, Patchings Open

2005 Solo Exhibition Prize, Nottingham Annual Open

2005 St Cuthberts Award, Patchings Open

2004 East Midlands Contemporary Art Award, Thoresby Open

Solo Exhibitions

2008 Illustrating Childrens Books - Fairy Tales and Legends, Derby Cathedral Centre, iron Gate, Derby

2006/7 Art on the Stairs, South Hall Gallery,Nottingham Castle

2006 The Earth Makes Food, Makes You, Soul, Derby

Joint Exhibitions

2007 Selected work by Nicki Dennett and Dale simpson, Peartree Farm and Art Centre

2006 Deja Vu, Nicki Dennett and Anna Johnson, Greendoor, Green Lane, Derby

International Group Exhibitions

2007/8 Print Zero, Touring Exhibition, Seattle,Washington, Madison, Wisconsin, Coral Gables, Florida, Portland, Oregon, New Orleans, Louisiana

2006 Print Zero, Touring Exhibition, Homer, Alaska, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Gables, Florida

Group Exhibitions

2010 NOW ON until September 2010, Inspired, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby

2010 Erewash Open, Beetroot Tree, Draycot, Derbyshire

2010 Under the Bed Sale, Cupola Gallery, Sheffield

2009/10 Derby City Open, Derby Museum and Art Gallery

2009 'Shebang' Beetroot Tree, Draycot Derby

2009 'Profile' Cupola Gallery, Sheffield

2009 Under The Bed Sale, Cupola Gallery, Sheffield

2008 Non - Toxic, Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery, Friar Lane, Nottingham

2008 Patchings Open Exhibition, Patchings Farm and Art Centre, Calverton, Nottingham

2008 Illuminating Illustrators, View From the Top, Nottingham

2007/8 Allotments, Harrington Mill Studio and Long Eaton Town Hall

2007 Postcard Show, Surface Gallery, Nottingham

2007 Soul, Derby

2007 Summer Exhibition, Thoresby Gallery

2007 Burton Open

2007 Beetroot Tree, Draycott

2006 Derby City Open

2006 Nottingham Open, Nottingham Castle

2006 Selected Work from Degree Show, Derby Cathedral Tea Room Gallery

2005 Postcard Show, Surface Gallery, Nottingham

2005 Nottingham Open, Nottingham Castle

2005 Geogeous Gifts For Chrismas, View From the Top, Nottingham

2005 Watch Out for the Small Print, Leicester City Gallery

2005 Summer Exhibition, Thoresby Gallery

2004/5 Watch Out for the Small Print, Leicester City Gallery and De Montfort Hall, Leicester

2005 Snowdrops in Spring, Throresby Gallery

2002 The Presence of Absence, Pickford House, Derby

Events

To find out what is coming up in 2010 click here

2010 Draycott Festival of Arts and Gardens

2009 This is Bazaar, Bishop Blaise, Derby

2009 Don't Panick! Festive Gift Bazaar, The Quad, Derby

2009 Surface Gallery Art and Craft Event

2009 2009 Melbourne Festival

2009 This is Bazaar, Derby Royal Hospital

2009 Derbyshire Open Arts Event 2009, Darley Dale

2009 Draycot Arts and Gardens Festival

2008 This is Bazaar, THE QUAD, Market place, Derby

2008 (September) Melbourne Festival, Derby

2008 This is Bazaar, Bishop Blaise, Derby

2008 Derbyshire Open Arts Event

2007 Wirksworth Festival

2007 Derbyshire Open Arts Event (DARTS)

2006 Harley Art Market, Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire

2006 Harley Art Market, County Hall, Nottingham

2005 Derbyshire Open Arts Event (DARTS)

Workshops, demonstrations and Illustrations

2010 Drop in workshop at the Debbie Bryan Gallery, The Lace Market, Nottingham

2009/10 Childrens and Adults Workshops, Beetroot Tree, Draycot, Derbyshire, ongoing

2009/10 Derby Adult Learning courses, City Council, ongoing

2009 Heage Primary School, after school club

2009 House of Fairy Tales, Festival of the creative act, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire

2009 Retford Art Society ,collagraph workshop

2009 Worksop Art Society, demonstration

2009 Retford Art Society, demonstration

2009 Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, delivered collagraph workshops

2009 After School Club project, Hartington Primary School

2009 Illustrations for a story entitled 'Zoetrope' written by A.K. Benedict for 'New Fary Tales' magazine

2008 Creative Partnerships Project, Hillside Primary School, Hucknall

2008 Adult workshop, Melbourne Festival

2008 Hartington Primary School, printmaking project based on the environment

2008 Littleover School, year 8, printmaking project based on nature

2006 Visiting Lecturer, University of Derby

2006 Presentation, Futures in Creative Industries, University of Derby

2006 Adult Collagraph workshop, Banks Mill, Derby

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