Originally from Scotland and with a 1st class BA(hons) from Glasgow School of Art, I completed a Master of Fine Arts (studio) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2008. I have previous degrees in the social sciences, including an MA (hons) in sociology and social and economic history from the University of Edinburgh.

My creative practice is ideas and research-led and fuses traditional and digital printmaking techniques, photography, bookmaking, video, 3-dimensional work and installation, and as part of the research, has expanded to include the practice of walking. My work is often about how we are located (and locate ourselves) in the world, notions of space and place and absence or subtle presence.

Current investigations include ideas of landscape, wilderness and migration, the assertion and reclamation of 'home' coupled with the mutability and temporality of belonging and within that, the information systems we use to define and locate 'place'.

In October 2009 I started an arts practice led, interdisciplinary PhD at the University of the Highlands and Islands, with the University of Aberdeen. The PhD is sponsored by the Forestry Commission, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the University of the Highlands and Islands. Drawing on art, human geography and anthropology in particular, and with a (walking) ethnographic element feeding into my arts practice,the PhD is entitled In the forest, field and studio: art/ making/ methodology and the more-than-written in the rendering of place

I will have an article based on elements of my PhD research in a special issue of The Geographical Review looking at geographically oriented creative expressions, and edited by Sallie Marston and Sarah de Leeuw, coming out in 2013

Glasgow Women's Library is celebrating 21 years and I am one of the 21 women artists to create an edition of prints, inspired by the items and artefacts from GWL, to mark the occasion. The group show takes place at the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow from 22nd September - 13th October 2012, details as follows:
21 Revolutions CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD

I have an article in the latest Performance Research journal: 17:4 On Ecology

I'm presenting a paper on 'The Making of Place' at the above conference, which is taking place at Wilfred Laurier University/ University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, May 28th - June 2nd

I'm presenting a paper entitled Walking as Markmaking at DRAWING OUT: 2012: a transdisciplinary conference and collaboration between RMIT Melbourne & The University of the Arts London, taking place at the National Gallery, Chelsea College of Art and Wimbledon College of Art, 28th - 30th March 2012.

I've been involved in a joint project with another artist and philosopher, and anscientist. Funded by Edinburgh Beltane via ASCUS - a group dedicated to setting up art/science collaborative projects - and with an end point in the realm of public engagement, the project uses scientific and artistic approaches to birdsong to investigate place and spatiality, and the communication of such information.

The exhibition accompanying the project is on at ASCUS, Unit 34, St James Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland until the end of February - 10am - 6pm except Tuesdays...

The blog accompanying the Project can be found at
a dissimulation of birds

The video Craws 1 will be shown as part of this conference, which runs in Edinburgh, 7th - 10th December, at the InSpace multimedia lab, 1 Crichton Street, Edinburgh EH8 9AB

I was recently invited to contribute to the Ashden Directory's New Metaphors for Sustainability: metaphors for the continuation of life, and my entry can be found here

The Directory and blog is a great source for information about environmentalism and sustainability and the arts

Over the last decade, Cape Farewell has been exploring cultural responses to climate change drawing together artists, scientists, cultural theorists, writers and others in a series of expeditions, conversations and different outcomes. This year's Scottish expedition is around the Inner and Outer Hebrides, and I have been delighted to have taken part, sailing on the leg from Skye, via Canna, Mingulay, Vatarsay and Barra to South Uist. Details of the expedition, as well as a blog can be found at Cape Farewell Scottish Expedition 2011

I've three digital pieces in a group show at Latitude 53 Gallery, 10248 - 106 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1H7 CANADA, from 23rd June - 23rd July 2011

There's a nice review of the show in
The Edmonton Journal

And also at
vueweekly

One of my installations and books is included in a summer reading room, at the Centre for Book and Paper arts in Chicago: the world as text

June 16th - August 12th 2011

Centre for Book and Paper Arts
1104 S. Wabash Avenue, Suite 200
Chicago, Illinois 60605 USA

Solo show at the Bakery Gallery, Davenport, Iowa - opening Thursday 14th April, 6pm - 8pm, show runs 14th April - 7th June (great bakery too!)


Check out http://www.thebakerygallery.blogspot.com and curator Joseph Lappie's website: pepticrobotpress.com

A solo show at the Tent Gallery, Edinburgh College of Art, 30th March - 7th April 2011, opening 30/4/11, 5pm - 7pm

... a collaborative interdisciplinary learning workshop for researchers took place at Dundee Contemporary Arts in November 2010. This 5 day practice-based experimental methodologies workshop involved 10 artists, film-makers and experimental geographers - we'll be producing an on-line Creative Practice Primer...

SEVERAL FORESTS
new works and works in progress
Academy Gallery
Moray College, Elgin
Opens on the 15th October 2010

In May 2010 I'll be participating in an international symposium and workshop at the University of Edinburgh, "A week-long training workshop dedicated to developing a diverse range of craft skills associated with audio, visual and site-specific methodologies..." Organised by Michael Gallacher at the University of Edinburgh, it will It will involve hands-on practical workshops led by leading academics and creative practitioners from the sonic and visual arts.

Check out
http://michaelgallagher.co.uk/experiment

A series of digital prints, "haste can do nothing with these hills" in a show looking at the links between art and the geology of Scotland
University of Aberdeen
Meston Building
Kings College
Aberdeen

an etching in RSA's Spring Open, 2009: Small scale works by contemporary artists and architects
The Mound, Edinburgh 18th April - 20th May

Work in Case-by-Case basis, a print and mixed media show which opens 6th March at Lloyd Dobler Gallery, 1545 W. Division 2nd floor Chicago,IL 60642

http://www.lloyddoblergallery.com/news.h

I've work in an interesting group show at Dominican University's O'Connor Art Gallery
January 28 - February 28, 2009

Opening Reception
Wednesday, January 28
4-8pm (extended opening!)


"Exhibiting artists include emerging and established internationally recognized and Chicago-based artists: Conrad Bakker, Jason Lazarus, The Franks, Nicholas Frank, Amanda Repo Taiwo Thomson, Carrie Schneider, Carey Lin and Andrew Coppersmith

The exhibition features work that explores the social, political and emotional being of the artist. While some works meditate on material and existential aspects of a committed practice, others comment on the art world itself."

The O'Connor Art Gallery is located 7900 West Division, River Forest, Illinois.

link to the gallery website is: http://www.dom.edu/departments/artDepart

press release about the show:
www.dom.edu/events-news/media-releases/2008-12/article_0009.htm

Delighted to say I've been awarded a grant from the Arts Trust of Scotland to attend a Banff Arts Centre masterclass in January 2009

In January/ February 2009 I'll be at the Banff Arts Centre, Canada attending a 7 week Masterclass - 'Road Show: Travels of the Artist' led by artist, writer and curator Ken Lum

September - October 2008 I was on a three week residency at Ox-bow, in Saugatuck, Michigan, USA

Two of my prints are in a great group show at Western Exhibitions, 5th July - 16th August 2008, with a reception on the 12th July, 6-9.

http://westernexhibitions.com/current/su

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Gallery 2 and Project Space
847 W Jackson
2nd & 3rd floor
Chicago, Il, 60607
USA

April 25th - May 16th 2008

Exhibition hours; Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm
Extended viewing; April 30th & May 16th, 11am - 9pm

Opening Reception
April 25th 2008, 9pm - 11pm


www.saic.edu/g2_projectspace