Hello
Mosaics - maker, craft and heritage educator
About
Designing, making and education
Craft matters
Developing hand crafted mosaics
My studio is hidden away in a small historic courtyard in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. It is in the coach house of, what was, William Hazeldine's house at the bottom of the Wyle Cop. He was one of the Ironmasters of the Industrial Revolution, so it is an amazing environment to work in with other craft workers.
I design and make mosaics.
Bespoke workshops
For schools and adults
Each workshop is designed in partnership with you. I will discuss the best workshop content so that you or the school pupils' learning outcomes and experiences are creatively and successfully met. Workshops for adults are limited to four people on site, school workshops can be for a class or whole-school out in school. Please contact me to book a mosaic workshop.
Learning Resources
Experienced educator
I addition to my mosaic work I am also a published primary learning resource designer.
Designer : Educator
Mosaic Maker: Freelance Creative Arts and Heritage Education Consultant
Originally I trained as jeweller and silversmith at Birmingham School of Jewellery, and now I have transferred many of those gem-setting skills to larger mosaic designs. I am still very attracted to using highly reflective materials and surface patterns, textiles and colour.
Current work has focused on exploring the positive/negative patterns within trees and their branches, silhouetted against the sky. I am also taken by historic embroidery with bright colours on a dark background. Much of my work is to commission but mosaics are available on display in my studio and through VAN Gallery in Shrewsbury and Willow Gallery in Oswestry.
My work features in the Maker's Directory on UKHandmade and Madebyhandonline. I would welcome opportunities to work with garden, architecture and interior designers on collaborative installations.
Mosaic artwork for sale is available in my Etsy Shop and work in progress updates and inspiration on Social Media
Mosaics
Made to commission or ready-made studio mosaics.
Battlefield Blooms
Exhibition January - March 2018
To mark the centenary commemoration of the end of WW1 and at the Theatre Severn a new production of Poppyfields The Musical, there will be an exhibition of artists' work responding to those themes. After several explorations of ideas, the final piece has now been constructed and ready for submission. Willow pattern plates cut into cornflower petals represent both domestic life of 1914 and the flower of remembrance in France. The triangular shape with a glowing, glittering gold top was to create a dynamic upwards movement, uplifting with a bird rising out of the poppies. The cut away in the centre is to create an aperture through which to look beyond.
Triangle Experiment
Prep work for Battlefield Blooms
This was an experimentation in using geometric shapes and floral motifs in preparation for a larger piece for an upcoming exhibition. Here are two of the three pieces to hang together in different combinations, smallest to largest, vice versa or randomly. I introduced a small amount of picassette, reducing several willow pattern plates to small rounds and flower petals. The willow pattern was making references to domestic china of the early C20th found in many working class homes.
Mirror, Mirror
Decorative and Functional
Talking to colleagues at the Visual Arts Network in Shrewsbury, I decided to move the embroidered tree idea on towards more functional designs. The first two mirrors were 50cms in diameter so allowed a geometric shape to be surface patterned. Early feedback has been good so I'm experimenting on some smaller mirrors to see how the scale works.
The Forest
The studio wall
Miniature tress have now been added to the forest that is now the studio wall. I have been playing with the perspective, using large and small trees. The embroidered idea is still a strong theme and getting some positive feedback after two Open Studio weekends in Shrewsbury.
Twin Trees
Extending the embroidered trees further
The single trees worked in isolation as decorative panels, now I extended the design to create a double tree, making more of the curved base and the earth between the roots.
Tudor Blackwork
My other job
As I also work as a museum educator I have access to some amazingly inspirational historic objects. One of these is a glorious Tudor velvet bedcovering, embroidered with rich and vivid silk thread. The pops of bright embroidery against a dark background. The black grout seems to both unify and intensify the mosaic designs.
New work
'Embroidered' Tree Series
Looking back over some silk painting work created some years ago, I decided that the tree silhouette would be a good starting point. Someone had recently suggested using thermal panels, which can be cut using a utility knife. The positive and negative effect of the branches against a sky created beautiful patterns.
All good ideas
... start with a chai latte
London Garden I
Inspiration
Series of mosaic roundels 50-30cms in diameter. This commission started with one roundel on the back wall and using a metal lizard water feature as inspiration.
London Garden II
Why not have two more?
The clients were so pleased with the effect of the sunlight on the mosaic that they commissioned two more in the series of lizards and dragonflies.
Mixed Media Materials
To catch the light
,As many of the mosaics are designed for outdoor spaces, I use highly reflective materials including mirrored glass ... a lot! The effect created as the sunlight dances and catches the designs just brings the mosaic alive.
Hampton Wick School Newt
And everybody helped!
This four by two metre mosaic was designed and made with pupil and staff input. The newt is the school emblem and red is definitely their school colour. Children from Nursery through to Year 2 came to work in the pop-up workshop and were very proud of the finished mosaic.
MacIntosh Influence
Inspired by Glasgow
This commission was for a large cheeseboard and the design was influenced by a visit to the C. R. MacIntosh house in Glasgow.
Walton on Thames
Wall Mosaic
Exterior Wall Installations
Working in rectangles, the mosaic was a chance to use lots of different coloured Van Gogh glass. Inspiration for the colours came from the colour of the London bricks and several purple and mauve bushes planted below.
Mosaic Gallery
A selection of recently completed mosaic work available through my studio shop on Etsy.
Workshops
Bespoke, high quality, well-designed workshops, resources and learning programmes.
Next Marvellous Mosaic Workshop
Studio-based one-day introductory mosaic workshop
The next Marvellous Mosaic workshops will be running on the following Saturdays and are an introduction to making simple mosaics:
NEW DATES FOR 2018
5 May
16 June
28 July
To book a place please use the contact form. The day runs from 10.00am to 4.00pm and you don't need any previous experience. The day will introduce which base to use, how to cut glass and ceramic tiles, using adhesives and grouting to complete either a coaster, trivet or a heart decoration. It all takes place in my studio in the heart of historic Shrewsbury in Shropshire and with only small groups you will receive all the guidance you need! And did I mention cake?
This is a photo of one of my talented workshop mosaic makers.
"I wanted to thank you for a very enjoyable mosaic workshop. It was lovely to meet you and have such a wonderful experience. I came away feeling I had achieved much more than I expected and I was extremely pleased with the mosaic piece I created. Thank you once again"
Jeanette
Art workshops
Tailor-made to suit your school
I am a fully qualified and experienced primary teacher and my DBS can be checked through the Government Update Service. Workshops can be booked for half or full days, several days or as part of your school's arts week celebrations. Workshops can focus on children exploring a new artistic skill or working collaboratively on one piece of artwork. Schools often have a site-specific piece in mind that they would like to display. I use a variety of media including, mosaic, acrylic paint, gold-leaf, textiles, wire-work, junk modelling and mod roc. The themes are endless, which is why I will discuss in detail your requirements before you make your booking.
Hampton Wick Infant & Nursery School
The Klimt Angel
Children from Nursery through to Year Two contributed to this massive triptych, learning the skills of acrylic painting on canvas, gold leafing and relief work. They also developed their team-working and critical thinking skills. The work was commissioned by the school as part of their annual Arts Week.
"Lindsey has worked with our school community for over 15 years on many wonderful creative projects. These have included 2D and 3D art and design projects, individual, group and whole school collaborations and also community wide installations. With skill, passion and knowledge, children have used a wide range of mixed media including acrylic paints, mosaic tiles, gold leaf, mod roc and recycled materials. From pursuing children’s ideas and igniting their creativity through marvellous projects to having a dedicated focus upon Take One Picture artwork, the experiences with Lindsey as our artist in residence has always been meaningful, invigorating, enjoyable and fun! Worth every penny!"
Heidi Johnson-Paul, Head Teacher, Hampton Wick Infant & Nursery School
Court Barn Museum, Chipping Campden
Spring Bug Family Workshop
Families came along for half day workshops using junk modelling to create some stunning spring bugs. This workshop was one of several designed to encourage family learning within the gallery. It was part of a learning programme designed as part of a new museum development project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This is works successfully in school as children work on problem-solving and how to fix a variety of materials together.
Artist Studio in School
Keeping the mess under control
The most effective way of working with many children across a school seems to be to set up an 'artist's studio'. Children can then come and visit in groups, working around a table with all the materials to hand. The photograph shows a mosaic set up over week in a corridor so that the children could watch the progress of the piece.
Hampton Wick Infant & Nursery School
Focus on Drawing Skills
Everyone, from Nursery through to Year 2, spent sometime outside sketching the school buildings. The school was about to be re-developed so this was a way of recording what was there. The children used simple black fine-liner pens on postcard size card and explored their observational skills, drawing what the=at saw not what they thought they could see! All the drawings were then assembled to create one stunning display.
Gordon Russell Museum, Broadway
Museum in a Box Outreach to Schools
Some projects have involved working in consultation with schools to create remote learning resources for museums and galleries. This resource box for schools was designed to encourage secondary school design pupils to engage with the Gordon Russell Design Museum. This was a small part of a wider outreach learning programme, researched and developed to support this recently created museum.
BLOG
Studio News
Educational Projects
Engaging people.
Artist in Residence and Workshops
On-site creative arts workshops.
Heritage Lottery Project Consultation
Advice and development on learning and audience engagement.
CPD Training in Art, Craft and Design
Sharing expertise with non-specialist teachers, staff and volunteers.
Learning Programmes and Resources
Development of heritage learning programmes and resources.
Museum and Gallery Workshops
Creative practical workshops designed and delivered for all ages.
Heritage Volunteer Training
Supporting and developing volunteer staff in heritage settings.
Clients
Interpreting ideas and aspirations for creative audience engagement.
Museum Learning
Clients
Landmark Trust
National Library of Scotland
University of Wales, Swansea
Court Barn Museum
Gordon Russell Design Museum
Windermere Steamboat Museum
Clifton Park Museum
Abergavenny Castle & Museum
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Museum of London
World Monument Fund Britain
Boston Castle, Rotherham
Melton Carnegie Museum
Community Archives Wales
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
Ayscoughfee Hall Museum
The Parish Church of SS Mary and Nicolas, Spalding
Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon
The Landmark Trust
Gloucestershire County Council
South Wales Miners' Coalfield Library, University of Wales
Schools
Clients
Hampton Wick Infant & Nursery School, Middlesex
Priory Preparatory School, Birmingham
Blockley Primary School, Gloucestershire
Hampton Infant School, Middlesex
Charlton Kings Infant School, Cheltenham
Court Barn Museum, Chipping Campden
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
CONTACT
I look forward to hearing from you!
© 2018