I am an artist, a writer and a therapeutic practitioner. I live in the North East of Scotland where these three elements of who I am are woven together and expressed through my art practice, my Writing For Wellbeing workshops and my work as a labyrinth walk facilitator.
My art is inspired by the interplay of my inner and outer worlds - by spending time being in the Scottish landscape and exploring my creative response to that in therapeutic ways.
Writing about the places I walk and swim enables me to reflect on what is going on for me internally and to celebrate the impact these places have on my sense of wonder and wellbeing.
I am also inspired by stories, myths, and historical elements such as the labyrinth. This enigmatic symbol is an enduring source of fascination for me both creatively and as a therapeutic tool.
“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
Writing - Going With The Flow
My writing practice began with journaling. As a teenager I would throw all my thoughts and feelings onto paper at times of deep personal difficulty so I could ‘see’ what I was feeling and try to make sense of it. That, in time, grew into poetry writing.
I loved poetry from a young age and enjoy how it communicates multitudes: from fun and humour to curiosity and wonder; from joy and celebration to anger, frustration and pain. I began writing my own poems to help me express what felt unsayable by any other means.
Stream of Consciousness writing is often my starting point and this method forms the foundation of my Writing For Wellbeing workshops. This process helps us to access our own inner wisdom reconnecting us to what we do not know we know. It helps us to strengthen our own unique creative voice, and it can also produce nuggets of inspiration that can be expanded on through other more considered forms of writing later on.
Art - Following The Curve Of My Curiosity
My art practice evolved from my writing practice. I first became interested in visual poetry and how I might combine written words with visual elements. I incorporate lines of my own poetry but I also experiment with the use of asemic writing (writing with no meaning).
Learning to trust the process and ‘go with the flow’ of my intuition has allowed me to play creatively without fear of the inner critic getting in the way.
This acceptance of ‘What is’ also forms the foundation of my therapeutic practice and I enjoy making art pieces where the layers of the process of creation are visible.
My explorations so far have moved through erasure poetry, pen drawings, papercutting, artists’ books and, most recently, oil paint and cold wax medium.
The Labyrinth
These sacred symbols hold a wealth of potential for both wellbeing and creativity.
The labyrinth has been in use for over 4,000 years although nobody knows for sure where they first appeared in the world or why. This enigmatic quality therefore allows us to relate to the labyrinth in a way that is appropriate for us – making them perfectly suited to wellbeing work.
Labyrinths offer the opportunity to take time to yourself, to slow down and go inward, to meditate, reflect, problem solve or simply be. They can also be used for celebration, dancing, play – the list goes on and on.
I offer labyrinth walk experiences and combined labyrinth walk, writing and art workshops.
Qualifications
Certified Poetry Therapist with the International Academy of Poetry Therapy
Certified Labyrinth Facilitator with Veriditas, the world-wide labyrinth organisation
MSc in Pluralistic Counselling from Abertay University, Dundee