‘Khener Dancer’ –  cloth sculpture with dreadlocks and embroidered tattoos

‘Freefall 2’ acrylic on canvas

South Square Centre is located on the outskirts of Bradford in Thornton, a village which is also the birthplace of the three Bronte sisters. April 2016 marks the bicentenary of Charlotte Bronte’s birth, so to celebrate all of South Square’s exhibitors will be women and there will be a range of artworks, events and activities in response to this throughout April and May. For more information – http://www.southsquarecentre.co.uk

Women’s work is never done…….mixed media

Dystopia – 2016 mixed media wood, silver mesh, wax, gold leaf, virgin queen bees

Conspirators – mixed media, pigeon skulls and feet, felt, wadding, nazars

Guardian – mixed media, bonsai sycamore root, found plastic budgerigar, feathers, egg, gold leaf

New Faces – mixed media, found religious statuary, found toy heads

Gathering – bronze casts of avocado stones, brass chair, Papaver somniferum roots, aluminium paint

Time Piece – wood, brass clock parts, electroplated copper seed pod (Papaver cambrensis), electroplated copper root (Papaver somniferum), brass bird

London based Sweet ‘Art will be holding their third exhibition titled ‘Hand Maid’ for International Women’s Day . ‘Hand Maid’ will showcase the work of local, national and international artists exploring the themes of femininity, feminine identity and women’s day. Works will celebrate, critique and reflect notions of femininity in our society and internationally, created by artists identifying as any gender. Along with a selection of artworks, from the beautiful to the provocative, ‘Hand Maid’ will also be an inclusive and fun art experience for visitors attending the show.’

A detail of  ‘Women’s work is never done…..’

Ancient Egyptian so-called ‘Paddle Doll’ named because of its shape. Early male archaeologists dismissed these female figurines as toys but more recent research suggests that “they were representations of specific living women, namely the Late Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom khener-dancers of Hathor at Deir el-Bahari”. (Paddle Dolls and Performance Ellen F. Morris-New York University)

Here are my interpretation of those paddle dolls, made in felt with embroidered tattoos and pubic triangles, beaded hair, nazar (evil eye beads) eyes and a safety pin mouth to represent the untold story of the so-called ‘Paddle Dolls’.

Work in progress 2014 – female deity figures based on Ancient Egyptian female figurines.

Three completed female figurines, fabric figures with embroidered hair and pubic triangles, felt eyes and false eyelashes in my studio at Cross Street Arts, Standish, Wigan.