The Fair Women

Master’s in Contemporary Design Craft

I completed my Master’s in Contemporary Design Craft at Hereford College of Art in 2023/24.

My study culminated in exhibitions in Hereford 13th to 20th of January and at Craft in the Bay in Cardiff 11th February until 2nd of April 2024.

As part of the Precious Collective ‘The Space Between’ tour, selected works have been shown in Munich Jewellery Week 28th of Feb to the 3rd of March, and at ‘Ferrous’ 15th to 25th of March, Hereford town centre. The work is now scheduled in Cagnes-Sur-Mer Jewellery Week. more info coming soon.

The image shows a colorful poster for Schmuck Jewellery Festival in Munich. It uses ransom note styling and has all the details of the exhibition

About the work

The Fair Woman – from conversation to object, an artistic response to the life of a female showman

Interpreting under represented heritage in a new way.

This body of work reflects a journey undertaken with female ‘Showman’ Louise Jennings, an octogenarian who has lived and worked on Fairgrounds all her life.

Lou’s generous invitation enabled me to record her biography, and research the social and historical context of her life over a two-year period. These conversations give an insight into a community living in plain sight of us all, but one we know little about.

The narrative has informed the development of a palette of materials and symbols which enabled the evolution of the work you see here. My work is an artistic response, an assemblage of symbols and signs not a commentary. You will find the essence of a story represented through objects, aimed to stimulate discourse, reflection, and interaction.
My outcomes are wearable pieces inspired by the more personal aspects of Lou’s story, along with their mixed media display which further expands the narrative that represents the wider notion of the fairground.

If you want to know more you can download a low resolution proof of my final report below, which I produced as a hard back book, or you can buy a hard back copy of this book here

A Fair Woman Download

Images below taken by Matt Davis

If you would like to hear Lou Jennings talk about the relevant materials and symbols that are incorporated in my work, click the link below.

You might want to know what Lou looks like, below is an image from her wedding day, when she married Billy Whitelegg. They have now been married for over 60 years. I am indebted to Louise for letting me into her life and sharing her inspirational story.

Billy Whitelegg and Louise Jennings on their wedding day

To give you an insight into the processes behind this work I have kept an online scrapbook journey of my process testing and the project evolution on an Instagram feed which you can find here.

Love Hearts and Lightening Bolts

Reclaimed sterling silver bangles and coat pins playing with the theme of lightening bolts and love hearts, charms and medals.

Bangles

A series of bangles with a combination of rectangular and round conjoined hoops, with large lightening bolt or love heart charms. Each charm is made of reclaimed sterling silver, is a heavily textured hollow form that has been treated with a patina.

No two sets of bangles are the same, some have stamped symbols or abstract marks hammered into their surfaces or are simply polished. These are powerful pieces, they are full of intention, not for the faint hearted. They come in sizes small or medium and can be made to order. Please email direct for details.

All are currently for sale at the Flaming Lady of Hay Arthouse.

Coat Pins

This collection of pins are made of reclaimed, hallmarked sterling silver. The are hollow so though larger pieces they are very light to wear.

This small pin is etched with the word love. This piece is SOLD.

True Love, has a heavily textured front with hand forged pins around its sidewall. It is the larger of the two pieces. It is in the form of a medal, an award for True love, or maybe a talisman to attract it you decide.

This piece is on sale at The Flaming Lady of Hay Arthouse.

Man Handed

Man handed are two pendants or could even be earrings made from rescued dolls hands and reclaimed Sterling Silver.
Surprisingly though all dolls have two hands it is quite unusual to find one where one hand hasn’t been damaged. It was nice to work with male hands, so different from the spindly hands female dolls are given. Much more detail, much more rugged, strong and often also have movement in the wrists – always ready for action unlike their dainty female counterparts.

These hands have reclaimed silver cuffs which are attached with a cold join. One has a copper star and the other a brass star. The cuffs are heavily textured and treated with a patina to bring out the richness of the metal. Both hands have a silver bangle. They can be worn as an earing or pendant. Both are hallmarked by the London Assay Office.

Both these pieces are now sold. Similar work can be commissioned to order. Please email for details.

Open Hand Talismans

I have been on an adventure redefining dolls, I turn them into new culturally relevant work. I was thinking of all the love, the prayers, the dreams, that young children embrew into their beloved dolls before they discard them and they become landfill.
Dolls are like plastic prayer boxes, absorbing the fantasies of young minds. I embarked on a prayer box mission. I incorporate the empty hands of dolls and their dreamy eyes and their fascinating blinking mechanism, into my own unique style. The collection will continue to grow.

The following pieces are made with reclaimed silver with rescued doll parts.

Receive:

This gazing beauty, has her hand open ready to absorb all the good things in life. Her heart lies below her clear blue eye and the back of her box has the word ‘receive’ faintly etched into it. The rescued dolls hand has a forged pin through a silver cuff, slightly open at the wrist giving the illusion of movement.

This piece is currently on sale at The Flaming Lady Art House.

I couldn’t resist adding a little pink glitter to the lid of this piece. I gained access to the lid when I rebuilt the eye mechanism in silver. The back and front have hearts, the words ‘open mind, open heart’ are etched on the back.
The hand has forged pin, holds a reticulated silver cuff using. There is a lot of love in this prayer box, and lots of life in the dreamy eye that watches the world with its wearer.

Blinker:

A bright blue eye and opalescent eyelashes blink as you move. This box has a heart motif on the front and a reconstructed eye mechanism made from copper and silver.

It has a deeply reticulated sleeve holding a rescued dolls hand with ‘open heart, hand, mind’ etched gently on the back. Not only this, the box has a patina, adding depth to the texture, giving it an authentic aged look.

Lucky Sushi

A copper coated sushi fish on a cold trapeze setting with a stone and two jump rings forms a statement pendant

Electroplated sushi fish on silver trapeze setting

Electroformed sushi fish, this process means the fish remains inside. No soya sauce in there I’m afraid, all shiny and clean.
The fish is swinging on a cold trapeze setting, suspended by a bezel set, rose cut aqua chalcedony stone. This stone is said to dissipate negative energy, promote strong bonds and goodwill. It is the birthstone of those born in March and also happens to look like a bubble.

This is a one off piece, there won’t be another.

This piece has now sold

Red Hand

My obsession with our most useful instrument, our hands, continues. These hands are removed from discarded dolls. They are lovingly electroformed in copper. This process means they have a thick coating of copper and the original hand remains locked inside.

As hands almost always come in pairs, I made two of these. Each hand is slightly different. Both have reclaimed Sterling Silver bezels, which are pinned to their respective arms.

The piece (on the left) has a slightly flared and textured bezel with a heart.
The one on the right has a plain polished bezel, simple and elegant.

The uncoated versions of these hands are so spindly and paralysed, very unlike real hands. Their lack of movement was something I found frustrating as a child playing with dolls. The copper coating gives them added detail, strength and character. Perhaps the children who abandoned them would find them renewed interest in them in their new state.

The empty hand is a symbol of peace, to come unarmed, open and ready to receive, to show fearlessness. The hand is a timeless symbol relevant to many cultures.

The left hand with the heart is now sold, but the right hand is available from
The Flaming Lady Art House

Hardcore Mermaid – The Blinker

pendant with silver front and back and copper sides. Hinting at a fish shape with a scaled tail for the bottom section and the top section has a closed dolls eye that has green glittery eyeshadow on the lid. It's hinged in the middle with a jump ring.

Blinker is a hollow formed hinged pendant.

It is lovingly constructed from eco silver and reclaimed copper. It is heavily textured and has etched scales on its tail.

The top section has a blue dolls eye which blinks. The lid is coated in luscious green glitter and the eyelashes have a hint of iridescence about them. The eye is reclaimed from a discarded doll.

I like to think it sees the world with both the naivety, fearlessness and clarity of a child.

The image shows a pendant with silver front and back and copper sides. Hinting at a fish shape with a scaled tail for the bottom section and the top section has a dolls eye that has a bright blue iris which looks at the viewer. It's hinged in the middle with a jump ring.

Blinker is a hollow formed hinged pendant. It is constructed from eco silver and reclaimed copper. It is heavily textured and has etched scales on its tail. The top section has a blue dolls eye which blinks. The lid is coated in luscious green glitter and the eyelashes have a hint of iridescence about them. The eye is reclaimed from a discarded doll.

I like to think it sees the world with both the naivety, fearlessness and clarity of a child.

Back of Hardcore Mermaid pendant, shows etched tail and etched words on the back 'Hardcore Mermaid' with a small star.

This piece is available from

The Flaming Lady of Hay Arthouse

Curriculum Vitae

2022 CV Download

Personal Profile

I am a creative problem solver. I am energetic & motivated, methodical, organised and good at prioritising. I work effectively to deadlines & within budgets. I listen and like to collaborate though happy to work autonomously. I enjoy challenge & change. I communicate well at all levels. I take great pride in my work. Extensive world travel & work across sectors has given me a broad range of experience with many transferable skills. I have integrity & discretion. I am practical, hands-on, pragmatic, trustworthy, reliable, and authentic.

Key Skills

* Strong management & organisational skills * Supportive team member with natural leadership skills *

* High-level I.T & office systems management * Experienced project manager * Successful fundraiser * Strategy development * Commissioner * Curator * Creative Producer *

Related Work History

Artistic Director

May 2016 – Aug 2022/Creative Producer 2023 – present Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts – Wiltshire:

Working with the Board of Trustees as A.D I managed and developed all aspects of the organisation. Devising a program of large-scale arts events working with numerous contractors and artists, both national and international. Attracting annual audiences of over 35,000 people. Managing a small team of paid staff and over 90 volunteers. I oversaw all promotional activity, Health & Safety, licensing & contracting, recruitment, managing budgets and developing income streams. I developed collaborative partnerships both locally & nationally and connected with the wider Arts sector. I commissioned ambitious new outdoor work and devised and developed community-led installation work. I left DOCA a strong and thriving organisation. After my Master’s I returned to take on responsibility for all artistic aspects of programming and fundraising, building partnerships and strategic development.

Artist – self-employed

Callous Creations – 2009 – present:

2021 – present – A range of art jewellery for sale at the Flaming Lady of Hay,

2009 – 2014 – Creative Producer for The Carpet Forest, appearing in Kidderminster, Bristol, and Great Malvern. Concept development, fundraising, tour co-ordination, creation and distribution of publicity. In partnership with artists Jo and Kate DeBurgh of P.L.A.N.E.T Art.

Exhibitions:
2024:

Pop up Masters Expo – Gomond Street – Hereford – Jan
Craft in the Bay – Cardiff – Feb – April
Schmuck – Munich – Feb- March

Arts & Play Development Officer

2005 -2016: WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL

Serving the towns of Kidderminster, Stourport, Bewdley & wider rural area, this diverse role required detailed knowledge of both sectors.

Duties included; Recruiting & managing a range of temporary/permanent and contract staff & volunteers. Developing & managing a range of community workshops, a rural touring scheme, consultations, evaluation, and project management of permanent & temporary public art commissions.

Creative Director & producer of an annual 13-day-long arts festival – ‘KAF’, attracting active audiences of up to 27,000. Responsible for all aspects of the delivery of the event curating and installing exhibitions, programming community workshops, and visiting shows both indoors and out.

Responsible for fundraising, report writing, marketing, managing budgets, creating artist’s briefs, contracting & negotiation. Developing local & regional partnerships. Strategy writing & delivery. Working closely with artists to develop their practice and support with coaching and strategic planning.

An active member of the Strategic Public Art and Outdoor Arts Steering Group of Worcestershire Arts Partnership.

Community Development Officer/Centre Manager

2002 – 2005: WMS HAYWARDS/CITYWEST HOMES

A large-scale regeneration project based in Lisson Green, Westminster, on a culturally diverse estate with more than 2,000 residents, high on the deprivation index.

Year 1: Centre Manager for ‘First Step.com’ I.T training center housed in a disused shop, delivering free training to the local community with a bolt-on outreach program. Managing teaching staff and facilities.

Year 2: Community Development Officer, responsible for wider projects, fundraising, building local partnerships & consultation schemes with the wider community. Managing a small team of staff.

Year 3 onwards: Community Centre Manager, responsible for establishing a program of events, fundraising, marketing & partnership working. Reporting to & acting as secretary for the management board. Managing budgets & a team of staff & volunteers.

Assistant Director

(1^st) /Producers Assistant – 1999-2001: SANDS FILMS LTD

‘A Children’s Midsummer Night’s Dream’. A full-length feature film version of the play with unabridged text shot in studios in Rotherhithe over 120 days. I was responsible for coordinating a cast of 364 primary school children with no experience of film-making. Working closely with the Director, Christine Edzard scheduling shoots, liaising with schools, parents, children, chaperones & support agencies such as Traveller Liaison. Work also involved art department, costume, dressing, continuity, boom operation & foley artist, organising screenings, publicity, fundraising, producing exhibitions nationally & coordinating press previews & premiers.

Assistant Director

(3^rd) 1996/7: SANDS FILMS: London/ IMAX FILMS: Canada.

The Nutcracker, a 3D feature film shot at Three Mills Island Studios. Roles included; Casting Assistant, designer & maker of production specific aerial harnesses. Aerial Choreographer. Rigging consultant, Art Department. Working closely with the director on set throughout the shoot. Developing & coordinating temporary training area for circus performers.

D.N.T.T. Fire & Scrap

1996: THE ARENA. BERLIN, GERMANY

A large-scale production, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes. Collaboratively devised, created & built-in Brolin near Poland, transported & reassembled in Berlin for a 2-month run by a team of international artists. Working intensively on the design & build of sets, props & costumes, devising & performing in all scenes both aerially & on the ground on 5 stages and a full-scale flying trapeze rig. Working with pyrotechnics, large-scale animatronics, creating & performing sound effects & performing to a live score from Ruby Throat, with performers & makers from The Mutoid Waste Company & Archaos Circus.

Community Development Worker

Church Street Neighbourhood Forum. 2001- 2002

(P/T) Duties included P.A to the Chair, office management. Creating marketing materials. Funding applications. Conference organisation & management. Developing & maintaining local partnerships.

Performance, Costume Maker, Production & Rigging

1994-2005: (Freelance, International)

Rigging, set dressing, and crew services – clubs, festivals and production companies.

Design & art department – clubs, festivals & corporate events, including; Vac Design, Ingenious, Midnight Design, Lost Vagueness, The Velvet Tipped Saloon. Trash City, Block 9 – Downlow, The Slumbarave, Company director of ‘This Way Up’. Devising, directing & performing dynamic static trapeze, doubles & solo aerial, silks, corde lisse, strops, cradle, stilts & walkabout characters. Hire & installation of a free-standing aerial rig.

Performing at including; Glastonbury Festival, Virgin97/98, Oerol Performing Arts Festival Tershelling, Holland, ‘Manumission’ – Privilege Night Club, Ibiza & ‘Gods Kitchen’. The Verve, Wigan, Lewisham Peoples Day, ‘Megatripolis’ – Heaven night club London/Athens. The Albany Theatre- Lewisham. The Forum Kentish Town. R.G.1. Reading. Chicago Rock Café – Northampton. Rolling Rock Tour, U.K. D.N.T.T. Carlton T.V. The Warehouse. M.T.V. The Aviation Ball – the Grosvenor Hotel, London. Channel Four corporate parties. ‘T’ in the Park Festival. London Fashion Week. The London Mime Festival. Etc.

Education, qualifications and awards

HEREFORD COLLEGE OF ART 2022 – 2024 – Masters in Contemporary Design Craft

WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL 2008-09 – Chartered Institute of Managers – Certificate in Management

KENSINGTON & CHELSEA COLLEGE 2003-04 – Millinery design – LOCN level one x 3.

TOWER HAMLETS COLLEGE 2002 – Certificate in Further Education Teaching 7407.1 & 7307.1

HACKNEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. 1999-2000 – Macromedia Director, PhotoShop, multi-media LOCN modules.

CENTRE NATIONAL DES ARTS DU CIRQUE – FRANCE. 1998 – High-level professional development in circus skills, specialising in aerial.

BIRMINGHAM POLYTECHNIC. 1986-89 – BA Honours Degree in Theatrical Design. 2:1

LEICESTER POLYTECHNIC. 1986 – Foundation course credit in Art & Design.

Other Training

2018 – 2021– Silversmithing with Alice Goldsack

2016 – Arts Connect/Wolverhampton University – Leadership Through Influence

2016 – Arts Marketing – Residency in brand & marketing strategy development

2010 – Equality & Diversity training

Full British Driving License.

Hobbies and Interests

Chair of the Trustees – Can’t Sit Still 2019 – Jan 2024

I have supported Artistic Director Cathryn Boot and other Trustees to progress a small theatre company to charitable status. This is a voluntary position enabling me to learn more about indoor theatre, broaden my networks and contribute to the growth of an exciting new company dealing with some important questions.

The Arts; theatre, dance, arts festivals, outdoor performance, live music & cinema. House renovation and property development. Former narrowboat owner. Air BnB host.

I have travelled extensively & have enjoyed visiting extreme climates or areas which have rich wildlife or very different cultures to my own.

Fitness: Yoga, cycling. Volunteering: Easton Veg box Delivery during COVID

Ankha

The image shows a chunky silver chain with a large three dimension eye pendant which has a silver tear shape attached by a link and large eyelashes

I’m inspired by travels to cultures such as India, Mexico, Egypt and Turkey where the eye is a recurring motif which I have always been drawn to. I continue to make references to it in my work. The eye is seen as a symbol of divinity and illumination. I hope this eye will look over its next owner wisely.

Ankha has a Sterling silver chain holding a pendant which has a reclaimed acrylic eye and brass walls. This piece has been Hallmarked by Goldsmiths Assay Office.

Each link of the chain is made and soldered individually. The chain is 50 cm’s long and closes with a toggle fastening. The eye and the fastener are positioned off centre so the closure is at the front.

The silver is treated with a patina and then polished back to give it depth and authenticity. There is 35 grams of silver in this piece.

This piece has now sold

Ocean Button

The image shows a chunky silver ring that has been treated with a patina that has made the metal go black. It has a texture hammered into the band. Attached to the band is a hinge which holds a circular button which has a black metal edge and a Mother of Pearl inlayed centre which has been carved with circles. The top moves freely on the hinge.

A chunky blackened and textured silver ring with a hinged top, inlaid with a hand carved Mother-of-Pearl disc. This is a statement piece, dramatic and satisfying to wear.

The inside of the ring is highly polished silver while the outside has been treated with a black patina and then buffed back to reveal the raw silver highlighting the textures and form. The shape of this ring is inspired by the button making industry and the dark colour from the deep sea where Mother of Pearl comes from.

I remember long ago in Birmingham exploring some derelict land and finding the leftover offcuts of the button manufacturing process. Old shells with lots of tiny holes cut from them. Most buttons were made like this before plastic became popular. It’s amazing to think that people worked in factories all day cutting and drilling the shells. The dust from these beautiful objects, once the homes of strange fish, is really harmful to the lungs. Each little microscopic fiber has a hook that is impossible to remove from lung tissue. There is a great article about American button history here if you are interested.

The top section of the ring is attached by a tiny rivet inserted through a hinge. It makes a satisfying tap as it brushes against the ring. The band is textured and the black patina is polished to bring out the depths of the pattern.

I chose to make the ring black, I love the colour and how it contrasts with the Mother of Pearl and the silver. It reminds me of the depths of the sea where the shells live before we harvest them. The inset in the top section is carved with circles, representing the bubbles of the water as it froths onto the shore and its hinge allows constant movement just like the ocean.

The ocean button measures 59mm. It contains 15 grams of silver.
If you would like to own it please contact me directly

About the work

The Fair Woman – from conversation to object, an artistic response to the life of a female showman

‘Home’ reliquary

Dobby

Dobby

Dobby back

Icon reliquary

Icon – fish

Icon – handle detail

Icon pendent

Icon hand close up

Icon pendant

icon pendent back

Arrow Pins

Pleasure Machine Pin

Pioneer pin

visionary pin

Arrow pins reverse

Bangles

Coat Pins

Receive:

Blinker:

Personal Profile

Key Skills

Related Work History

Artistic Director

Artist – self-employed

Arts & Play Development Officer

Community Development Officer/Centre Manager

Assistant Director

Assistant Director

D.N.T.T. Fire & Scrap

Community Development Worker

Performance, Costume Maker, Production & Rigging

Education, qualifications and awards

Other Training

Hobbies and Interests