Hello

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

,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.

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.

This commission was for a large cheeseboard and the design was influenced by a visit to the C. R. MacIntosh house in Glasgow.

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.