THIS SERIES EVOLVED from the earlier poetry paper cuttings. Throughout lockdown the mask struck me a potent symbol of this extraordinary year. I’ve always been fascinated by masks; Venetian masked balls are almost my favourite event of all to work at, yet this is a very different kind of mask. When wearing a mask we are all to some extent “hidden”. This hiding, or deleting of the face is a powerful act on many levels and changes the way we all interact. In these cuttings I wanted to bring the humanity of the person out from behind the mask.
The opening of the open studio by the Mayor of Reading
View of the gallery during the 2021 open studio event
Mays Barn is a versatile space
No 2 held aloft
The was the image used to advertise the open studio
Detail of head no 4 against a white painted brick and flint wall
Detail such as an eyelash changes the cutting completely
No 8 on display against a brick wall at the 2021 open studio
The brick wall behind adds an extra dimension to the paper cutting
No 19 on display at the open studio 2021
This cutting was displayed at the centre of the exhibition against a yellow drape
No 17 on exhibition at the open studios 2021
This cutting was painted with a copper / gold acrylic paint
No 20 on display at the open studio 2021
This is how paper cuttings would be displayed, floating with no visible means of support
No 20 detail with shadows behind
I loved the shadows at this exhibition
No 14 with shadows behind
One of the joys of paper cuttings is their three-dimensional nature. This is perhaps ironic considering how flat the paper is, but I always hate to stick them down to the white sheet
Anonymous Masked Portrait no 14
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
No 14 famed on glass
For this exhibition I'm experimenting with a series of open-backed frames which allow the light to fall through the paper cutting, castling shadows on the wall behind
No 13, laid on a bamboo table
An unmounted finished cutting of no 13 on the bamboo table
Anonymous Masked Portrait no 3
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
No 10 as a pencil sketch
Each edition of paper cuttings begins with a simple pencil sketch
Anonymous Masked Portrait no 10
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
No 8 progress
Half way through the cutting process for Masked Portrait no 8
Anonymous Masked Portrait no 8
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
No 8 framed
No 8 glass mounted and framed
Detail of no 8
No 8, detail of the eyes (unfinished)
No 6, laid on a bamboo table
An unmounted finished cutting of no 6 on the bamboo table
Anonymous Masked Portrait no 6
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
No 5 on bamboo table
An unmounted finished cutting of no 5 laid out on the bamboo table
No 4 on bamboo table
An unmounted finished cutting of no 4 laid out on the bamboo table
Anonymous Masked Portrait no 4
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
No 2 on bamboo table
An unmounted finished cutting of no 2 laid out on the bamboo table
Anonymous Masked Portrait no 2
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
No 1 on bamboo table
An unmounted finished cutting of no 1 laid out on the bamboo table
Anonymous Masked Portrait no 1
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
No 4 in white
An experimental white version of Head Back no 4 on the studio table
No 4 on bamboo table
An unmounted finished cutting of Head Back no 4 laid out on the bamboo table
Hair Portrait no 4
Scissor-cut black paper, approx 10" x 8"
THESE GALLERIES ARE DISPLAYED for artistic interest. Many of my art works are available for sale. Others have been sold, bartered or given away over the years. If anything catches your eye, or if you’d like to arrange a studio visit (either real work or virtual) do please get in touch. While the most recent galleries represent ongoing work, you can browse collections of art from various projects over many years here.
