Much of my work is monochromatic, this body of work seeks to move away from that colour palette. It is not one in which I am entirely comfortable. The reasons for monochrome work are in order to privelage the line and form, and, on an entirely practical level, all materials come in white, black and orders of beige shades. Neutrals are also the colours of 'quiet luxury' a term much talked about in fashion, architecture and interiors as embodying success, wealth, refined taste. 

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This body of work begins to address the deficit of colour : employing it in the same way as water colour: creating overlapping washes of colour utilising transparent net, organza. The hues are deliberately vivid,  Hi-vis tints echo neon lights and are in part a response to a series of artworks made by my studio sharer Andrea Coltman. She uses these shades depicted in the garments of construction workers, workmen and semi official contracted labour. They are the colours in which her figures 'disappear into a crowd'. They might be said to be very low in the fashion hierachy:  workplace clothing worn by the lower paid, the overlooked, the anonymous.

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However, in my work, these neon colours, and the fabric choice, are symbolic of fancy dress costumes, of crazy clown outfits, ballet tutus and wild carnival outfits. The wearer dons them to dress up as a different character from that  assumed in their everyday life. 

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An additional aspect to the work is a consideration of the use, and symbolism of the frame. Specifically I am asking "is the frame a silent object"? Is it an afterthought, the last procedure in making, or is it the starting point for the work? 

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Two works specifically relate the frame to the wearer of clothes, the frame is the starting point. These are Overflow and Flow. Overflow is constructed entirely on the frame, pinned, hand sewn, pressed into place. The technique is that of making couture gowns in fashion - created by draping fabric on a model, or mannequin, then pinning and fitting as a hand sewn bespoke item. Flow is started in the same way but with additional machine 'drawing' on top.  

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​​​Works without dimensions are in progress.   

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