_{“mâchénations… ?”}

Someone I met recently coined the new collective noun ‘machenations’ for the creatures. I’m still absorbing it.

In my figurative work creatures are formed from crushed paper, covered with discarded vintage book paper and embellished with repurposed and found materials. I find material and objects in antique shops, in my collection or discarded in the environment. I am interested in the narrative of each piece: Sometimes a found object influences the creatures purpose for being, and sometimes inspiration comes from observing life around me. The words which then accompany the creature are a part of the work. No creature can be finished without a purpose, although it doesn’t need to be a grand one. Sometimes in life it is enough to simply be.

The form they take evolves by letting my hands mould the paper without too much conscious thought in the initial stages – the shape my hands make is rooted in both conscious and unconscious memory. I recognise the influence of the brilliant illustrator Edward Gorey, and many animal forms. Hand knitting, sewing, patching and darning are traditional male & female skills which were essential for survival and now hold meaning in a slow practice, in memory, and in resisting a throw away culture.

Although each creature is different, without intention several types have appeared over the years:

• ‘Anteaters‘ are often focussed on domestic matters… although there is no obvious reason why that should be.
• ‘Wild swimmers‘ are inspired by immersion in wild stretches of water – ocean or inland. Some are more suited to the water and are confident, others less suited and reluctant. As a child I was always in the water – the sea and rivers of the west coast of Ireland in particular – and their creation is linked to these memories.
• ‘Wild birds‘ are nearly always seabirds and respond to weather conditions, the tides and the compulsion to migrate. They are often adorned with seaweed, shells and natural material – and sometimes fishing net. Unlike the other types of creature which are all named, names do not sit well on these birds and my solution has been to ring them – so each has a unique identification number.
• ‘Endlings‘. Sometimes a creature will be very different and can’t be categorised. Something I have always liked. There is a scientific term for the last one of any species, an ‘endling’.
• Sculptures on vintage tins are a new development. Currently the creatures are smaller and less embellished. The tin will relate to the subject in some way, but may not be obvious.

If you are interested in seeing more creatures, or are interested in commissioning one specific to yourself, you can contact me here.

Sensing the cold front (007) and Yellow Shank foraging (008) are two of the wild seabirds. They probably speak to a personal desire to migrate and to a love of foraging! 007 sensed the cold front approaching, and contemplated migration south. 008 was a Yellow Shank, who preferred to forage on an ebb tide.

‘Journeying North’ is a more recent wild bird, although perhaps becoming more domesticated? There are some fibres found on the beach wound round the neck. “Feeling the change in the air, Skellig put on winter plumage and packed a small bag for the journey North...”

‘Always consult the tides‘ is a recent wild swimmer, with a typical stream-lined form. “Faced with an expanse of mud, Bernard regretted the decision not to consult the tide time table…”

‘Surviving at the tideline’ was inspired by finding some seaworn fabric on the beach at Dungeness, Kent, and a plastic leaf washed up at Calshot Spit, Hampshire. Includes some found fishing line and a plastic sauce bottle. For those who love foraging, and cleaning the beach… “Burra is surviving at the tideline. Endlessly resourceful with flotsam, she finds little need to expand her horizons.”

‘Blasts of icy wind’ was inspired by finding one of my grandmothers bone crochet hooks, and the love of being inside in the warm while listening to storms outside. “An island creature, Scapa liked to stay indoors in frosty weather – mainly eating cake and crocheting warmer underwear, and listening to hailstones on the roof.”

‘Swimming practice…’ is perhaps for a slightly less adventurous swimmer. Finding the vintage enamel jelly mould inspired this piece. “Howard loved his old bath tub, but swimming practice was undoubtedly a little tricky…”

‘Finding balance…‘ Self-explanatory! Given the choice of tin I may have been thinking of domestic balance, but perhaps something else…

‘A lightbulb moment’ was created while I was struggling to decide what to do with the vintage lightbulbs which belonged to my mother. I liked the contrast between my procrastination and the irony of calling the piece ‘A lightbulb moment’. “Heliotrope gathered plenty of lightbulbs. But, in the moment, still struggled to choose one.”

‘Again?’ was inspired by a small brush found in a charity tool workshop in Wales. “Tilda was tired of always sweeping, sweeping…she dreamt – mainly of a ride-on vacuum cleaner.”

‘Kippers at work’ is an endling inspired by a found object – in this case a small piece of printed textile with the phrase. “Boon instinctively knew he was the last of his kind, but he continued his work down at the harbour and lived in hope.”