She started making bead jewellery in her teens, having been influenced in South Africa by the beading techniques used by some of the indigenous people. She started out giving her jewellery as presents to her friends and colleagues and then exhibited at Salmesbury Hall at a Craftsman at Work Exhibition, which gave her the confidence to attend craft fairs around Lancashire. Having built up considera
ble experience, she sought to learn more about her trade and therefore went to study design at the University of Central Lancashire, before going on to study silversmithing in Manchester. After college she spent my time practicing, and teaching herself new skills either from a course that started her off in a more advanced direction or by trial and error, Isabel also worked with other artists in exhibiting her jewellery at Art Galleries nationwide. I have exhibited and sold my Jewellery in the following Galleries and shops;
Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
Divine, Preston
The Edge Gallery, Lancaster
Harding House Gallery, Lincoln
Necessary Angel, Keswick
Artifex in Sutton, Coldfield
The platform Gallery, Clitheroe
Urbis, Manchester
The spiral Gallery, Settle
Cedar Farm Gallery, Mawdesley
Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno
Courtyard Gallery, Appleby-in-Westmoreland
Dean Clough, Halifax
Mikell, Hay-on-Wye
Manchester Craft Centre
Exhibitions
August 1989 Craftsman at Work Exhibition Samlesbury Hall
February 1991 Images Bespoke Work in Progress Jacob Kramer Gallery Leeds
October 1994 North West Design Collective Longton Village Hall
April 1995 NWDC, Choice Works Harris Museum and Art Gallery
March 1996 NWDC, Watermarks and Tide lines Harris Museum and Art Gallery
November 1996 NWDC, Group Profile UCLAN Victoria Building
April 1997 NWDC, Wave Rock Harris Museum and Art Gallery
November 1997 Autumn Exhibition Brook Gallery, Goosnargh
March 1999 NWDC Edges and Hedges Harris Museum and Art Gallery
November 1999 Open Exhibition Brook Gallery, Goosnargh
Feb-April 2000 Jewellery Exhibition Grundy Art Gallery Blackpool
May 2000 NWDC, Eye Candy Harris Museum and Art Gallery
July/August 2000 Open Exhibition Druncroon, Wigan
April 2001 Open Exhibition Astley Hall Chorley
April/May 2001 NWDC, Beyond the Surface Wensley Gallery, Ramsbottom
May/June 2002 NWDC, Secrets Chapel Gallery Samlesbury Hall
May/June 2003 NWDC, Elements West Wing, Samlesbury Hall
September 2003 artech 38 Lancashire Artists Maiden Bridge, Tatham
December 2003 artech Exhibition UCLAN, Victoria Building
December 2003 Little Thornton Theatre Opening Thornton, Flyde
May/June 2004 NWDC Exhibition West Wing Samlesbury Hall nr Preston
April 2004 Great British Craft Trade Fair Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate
March to April 2005 NWDC Exhibition, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport. May to August 2005 Craft Showcase Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston
November 2005, Christmas Fine Art and Contemporary Craft, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
April 2006 Collective Works, Farfield Mills Arts and Heritage Centre, Sedburgh
2006 NWDC Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
The Great Preston Art Bazaar Harris Museum and Art Gallery
Inner City Living exhibitions,
As well as exhibiting at the Elements Exhibitions in 2003 and Collective Works in 2006 I was responsible for organising and setting up the Exhibition. The Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, purchased a piece from the exhibition in 2000, to place in their permanent collection. Several publications have featured me. BBC Lancashire Website, Yorkshire Evening Post, Yorkshire Post, Lancashire Evening Post, Blackpool Evening Gazette and Brides Magazine
Teaching
I have taught 14/15 year olds jewellery making on a weeklong project course at Bispham High School the Fylde. I have also taught beading at Lancaster University
For the last few years I have been looking after my children, I have just last year gone back to work and have been selling my Jewellery through online sights including ETSY, Bonanza, Big Cartel, Misi and Things Arty
I have also been developing new skills and new designs in Resin, my new range is called Qui
