I am an inclusive arts practitioner. For me, this means that I create spaces which hold a nurturing environment for individuals and groups to explore the process of creativity and uncover authentic stories based upon their experiences. I am very passionate about nature, and how we interact with the natural world that sustains us, leaning into practices that cause no harm to the environment. This includes natural crafts as well permaculture methods which recycle non-perishable materials. My creative background involves mixed media art practice with an interest in celebrating the multiple ways we experience the world through our senses and our connection to nature and each other. Getting involved in creative practice is something I feel enriches the way we narrate our world and tell stories that inform our culture. I have increasingly moved toward a practice of autoethnography, sensory ethnography and exploring ancient forms of oral storytelling. I have gravitated toward creative practice as an inclusive activity because that is what it is for me: Exploring relationship with myself, with others, with materials and with my environment.

In my personal practice I have always had a strong relationship with paint, deconstructing furniture and collage and incorporating all of these practices into multi-sensory forms of storytelling. More recently I find myself exploring natural materials such as herbs, natural paints and dyes and have found myself committing to natural practices that are sustainable and assist in connection with the natural world. Forest crafts such making natural looms and mobiles, flower mandalas and plant printing, weaving with willow and cultivating materials such as plants and kombucha skins.

Underpinning all of this, I am mother to a young daughter. My work and creative practice reflects my relationship with her, as I continue seeking to make sense of my world through creative practice.

I’m currently working on stories that uncover the maternal experience, maternal connection and lineage and practices that are inclusive to mothers and children, utilising the sensory experience. Sensory ethnography has become a focus of my practice and the combination of crafts that use natural materials and engage the senses to provoke and assist oral storytelling is an evolving practice in my current work.

I am a qualified mental health nurse with a background of collaborating with people with a range of mental health experiences and from diverse backgrounds. My work has focussed on the recovery model, holistic approaches and narrative work, with a commitment to questioning dominant narratives such as the medical model. I have worked in perinatal mental health and after having a daughter myself have become a fire facilitator with Wyld Mothers. We offer a community space for mums and babies to be in nature around a fire while facilitating natural craft activities. My practice is trauma informed and focusses on community. My practice involves a bearing of self and when holding a creative space, I aim to offer a nurturing environment in a bid to support true connections through encouraging self-acceptance. Inclusive arts practice is a key approach to this facilitation and supporting collaboration and community building.