EVENT - Poppies in Peace @ Beck Isle Museum

I’ve spent the past two months working with MakeMore Arts on their Arts Council England funded poppies in peace project. we’ve run workshops with 500 children in schools throughout Rydale and the culmination is an exhibition of the work produced to be displayed in the Beck Isle Museum in Pickering. Today we installed the poppies created by the children in the activity room, the exhibition will run until 24th November.

https://www.makemorearts.com/blog/poppies-in-bloom?fbclid=IwAR3yKSHshqz-Tk6U1x3zw6mgwwK8FoP8fXPTq5zHrNT0gsmOTHEfD-NZwhM

EVENT - New Gallery, Pineapple in Bishop Auckland

I've recently had my work stocked by the lovely Pineapple Gallery in bishop Auckland. They have taken some of my Large Portraits on paper and some of my smaller ceramic works. 

OUT & ABOUT - Gongers bid for Guinness Book of Records

Took myself off to London to join in with the Guinness Book of Record attempt at the most Gong Players in one room... what an amazing experience! One of the rooms at Hammersmith Olympia was full to the brim of the most amazing and somewhat huge gongs. Swoon...

EVENT - Summer Artfest

 Back at the Summer Artfest at Monument in Newcastle this weekend...

WORKSHOPS - Clay Inventions at Worsbrough Mill

A busy workshop today at Worsbrough Mill as part of Barnsley Museums Cracking Ceramics! project. 

OUT & ABOUT - Barry Basil

Met the very lovely Barry Basil today and received a gorgeous kiss 👄💓

WORKHOP - William DeMorgan Inspired Land Art

What a great day! Barnsley Museums invited Land artist Mim Robson and myself to run a special one day project in the grounds of Cannon Hall. We worked with the public to create a piece inspired by the ceramics of William DeMorgan. The final ambitious work was created using natural objects foraged from the grounds along with added freshly created ceramic flourishes. There were plenty of visitors around to help create the work… this was my first foray into creating this kind of land art and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was also very lovely to work with Mim on this project. Thanks to Barnsley Museums for bringing us together for this fun one day project.

 

 

EVENT - National Saturday Club Yearbook & Exhibition

Ah... I feel very privileged to be one of the National Saturday Club Trusts Masterclass Alumni, I'm in exceptional company! This yearbook is amazing to read through and to see all the amazing things that have gone on throughout the year with the National Saturday Clubs.  

AIM & CLICK - Scarborough Joke Shop

I just love this Joke Shop in Scarborough, as a youth I remember being transfixed by the Joke stall at Newcastle Quayside Market every Sunday, I would have loved a shop like this then...

EXHIBITION - Northbound

I'm back again for a second year at the NORTHBOUND Pop-Up Exhibition in Newcastle Central Station. This time I've brought along 4 of my A1 watercolour and ink portraits. I'll be here today until 4pm

OUT & ABOUT - Rachel Ara

I really love this self evaluating artwork by Rachel Ara, this is currently on display at the Whitechapel Gallery, I first met Rachael at the Aesthetica Symposium and what an inspirational artist she is 😀

Rachel Ara - This Much I'm Worth

EVENT - Presenting Certificates

What a lovely experience presenting Bradford College students with their National Saturday Club certificates with Sir John Sorrell. Really looking forward to the opening of the exhibition at Somerset House 😀 

Karen Thompson and Sir John Sorrell present Bradford College certificates.

STUDIO - Big Cat Little Cat

I had my little chum in the studio with me today... As I was cutting this tiger shape out of clay he decided to leave his imprint 😺

EVENT - Cracking Ceramics Display

Some of the work we produced during the ceramics workshops run inside Cannon Hall as part of the Cracking Ceramics funding have gone on display inside Cannon Hall. The work was selected and co-curated by myself and Barnsley Museums  

 

EVENT - An Apple for the Teacher

Was really chuffed to be presented with this gorgeous hand crafted wooden apple, this was given to me by the National Saturday Club Trust for the Masterclass I ran with the Bradford Club.

MASTERCLASS - National Saturday Club

I was invited to run a Masterclass for the National Saturday Club Trust at Bradford College of Art. What a lovely day. Bradford College had requested that I show them the techniques I use for my Paintings and illustrations. So after my Artists talk we got stuck in. A great group who were enthusiastic and talented. Thanks for inviting me…

Photo Credits: Rob Thompson / The Saturday Club Trust

NEWS - National Saturday Club Masterclass

I’ve been invited by Lady Frances Sorrell OBE to run a Masterclass for the prestigious National Saturday Club Trust. I’m very excited about this project and feel extremely honoured to be asked to take part.

WORKSHOP - Cannon Hall

A great couple of days running clay workshops for Barnsley Museums. Two beautiful days in two beautiful rooms at Cannon Hall, amazing building and grounds. The theme of the workshops was based around fairy houses and faeries inspired by fairyland, an area within the grounds of Cannon Hall.

NEWS - Cracking Ceramics at Cannon Hall

I've been approached by Barnsley Museums to run a series of Clay Workshops over eight days around the Cracking Ceramics! project which they have secured external funding for. This is a 2 year project and to start with I'll be running some family drop in workshops at Cannon Hall around the theme of fairyland.