Drawing for as long as I remember
A brief history of my drawing in my life
From a very young age I had training and habit to represent the human body and movement accurately, in very formal and exact drawing techniques and materials to create designs for ‘finished artwork’.
This resulted in awkward results, unreal and impossible expectations that were often not pleasing to the eye.
I began to explore 'Dancing with Your Shadow' in 1997 after several years of illness. Drawing dancers and performers in classes, rehearsals and on stage.
I also experimented and played with different mark-making tools and materials and to draw with uncoloured wax, charcoal and inks. These can be very unstable and fluid materials that hold and express movement, revealing light effects much more effectively.
The wax in particular is invisible before a wash of ink or watercolour is brushed over. For me this technique is a metaphor for revealing with some control and understanding, allowing others to see our real selves, exposing the creative life within.
My understanding of ‘Dancing with your Shadow’ is about recognising hidden traits in our personalities.
We aim to show our positive characteristics, while often displaying more complex, hidden and mixed emotions. By accepting our shadow selves, we relieve the anxiety of hiding true-self, achieving greater authenticity, spiritual awareness and freedom.
The encouragement to dance with our shadows, not ignoring or denying them, is to express an active approach to the reality that there will be problems and challenges in life.
Learning from them will reveal understanding and strength for our future selves adn the communities that surround us.
I have continued to explore the theme using woven tapestries and willow sculptures. More images to follow
I worked with dancers in Moscow and London in 2007, sharing ideas and dreams.
August 2026 in Cambridge, UK, will be an exciting and wonderful opportunity to realise some of those dreams, in collaboration with Prix Osipova, an international dance competition founded by Natalia Osipova, currently Royal Opera House principal dancer, and Anna Koblova former Bolshoi ballerina and artistic director for the project
For more information see 'Dancing with Your Shadow'
