Why Kites?

I have travelled extensively in Europe, spent 3 months in the South American Rain forest, drove down the East coast of N. America in an old car, cycled from Amsterdam to Athens and have recently returned from a trip to the "Basant" kite festival in Lahore, Pakistan.

As I had the opportunity to travel with 2 other Artists, Shanaz Gulzar and Tim Smith to record in our own creative ways this fantastic event where 5 million people fly kites off the roofs of their houses through out the night and day.

On return we exhibited our work in an exhibition "Taking Flight at Cartwright Hall, Bradford which will be on at the Rochdale Art Gallery in February 2005

Somehow I have always had something to do with the air,apart from breathing, which has included Bungee jumping, hang gliding, parachuting and working for 6 years as a member of Skinning the Cat Aerial Theatre Co.

I have often been involved in theatre working on large scale events with companies like Raise the Roof, Albatross and Chol Theatre Co.

More recently I have been working with Opera North's Education team on a project for Sheffield Children's Festival and workshops in 2 special schools in North Yorkshire, culminating in a small dramatic piece.

The Closing Ceremony of the Common Wealth Games 2002 involved over 30 artists (of which I was one of them) and the making of 2000 lanterns.

Other commissions that I have been involved with have included the making of a giant strawberry, cauliflower and apple, and the creation of a giant Peace Dove with the Bradford Youth Parliament.

Awards

In 2003 Lilycroft Nursery School, Bradford, won "Working with Artists" Artworks award on an outdoor sculptural project using recycled materials.

"The project is an excellent example of open-ended, creative learning,with an emphasis on the quality of the process rather than on the end-product alone."(The Clore Duffield Foundation and The Tate Modern)