My Story

Currently, I work with ceramics and textiles creating one off pieces that explore personal stories, snippets of nature and pattern (ranging from mark making through to lettering).

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My journey started surrounded by lots of crayons, cardboard boxes and tape, creating absolute mayhem whilst my family tiptoed through the carnage! As I got older, I used to love making clothes for my dolls on my mum's tiny blue sewing machine from her childhood and like many others I adored a good rummage through my grandma's button tin. I was also a massive fan of plasticine and loved Morph! These days opening a pack takes me right back to my childhood. By the way, this is me on my 2nd birthday. My mum had saved hard to get a professional set of photos taken. I can't believe just how red my hair is!

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I had a creative childhood & loved most subjects at school (particularly languages, taking GCSEs in French, German and Latin!). I studied at Manchester Metropolitan University and graduated with a First Class BA Hons degree in Crafts having decide to specialise in Ceramics and Textiles.

 

Straight after university, I got a job working for Next Interiors in Manchester but had to travel to Chester each day as the Manchester Bomb had decimated most of Manchester's Next. I left Next to work as an Occupational Therapy assistant on a secure mental health unit. This was where I realised that I loved working creatively with people and decided to apply for a PGCE in Secondary Education.

 

In the meantime, my ceramic sculptures enabled me to win the 9th Inax Design Prize for Europeans alongside Daniel Levi from Amsterdam! A residency in Tokoname, Japan was part of my life changing prize. I delighted in being fully immersed in a different culture and cycling past stunning wooden buildings on my way to the studio. I hope to return to Japan one day to learn more about Japanese pottery traditions.

 

Returning home from Japan, I went straight onto the PGCE course & afterwards worked as an Art Teacher for almost 2 decades. During this time, I took on the role of Community Arts Coordinator and managed some incredible projects including one that was made into a mini documentary for Manchester TV.

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In 2016, I moved from Manchester back to Nottinghamshire, where I set up Bus and Bird Arts which I still run (although covid 19 has made it extremely tricky). With Bus and Bird Arts, I have been Lead Artist for two Heritage Fund Projects (excitingly appearing in a 30 minute film at Mansfield's Odeon), Project Manager for Mansfield Museum's audience development project & amongst other things regularly work with Big Fish Little Fish swapping classrooms for nightclubs!

 

Alongside my passion for participatory arts, I continue to make my own art work as 'Curious Clare' which I very much enjoy. I create in a small garden studio (known affectionately as The Shed of Dreams) and delight in watching the local wildlife from my shed windows.