I am a visual artist, community facilitator and project producer.

My work creates a dialogue between organisations, artists and the public, centred around topics we encounter in today’s society.

Until lockdown, I worked for over 25 years with schools, arts organisations and universities, transitioning last year to become a full-time participatory artist.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to receive a significant number of commissions that have kick-started my new career.

These have included one from Southampton General Hospital, celebrating 75 years of the NHS.

I was also commissioned as an artist in residence at Winchester School of Art Gallery, which is part of Southampton University. Other commissions include working with a school to redesign their playground.

I’m excited to be part of the Pub Cultures project because I’m keen to develop my mural skills and this will be the largest mural I’ve ever painted.

I was drawn to Pub Cultures because, first and foremost, all my work is a response to people in place.

I am used to working in new and different areas and settings. The most important aspect to me is getting to know the communities that make up those places. I call it ‘the art of listening’.

Pub Cultures is about pairing artists with participating pubs around the city to create unique works of art for each venue, and I really enjoyed the recent matching event.

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It was great to meet all the different pub landlords and staff – it felt like a trip down memory lane, remembering times I had been to some of the pubs when I was younger.

I paired up with the Robin Hood pub in Sholing. It’s a real community pub. Jackie, the landlady, has been really welcoming and I have met so many lovely people.

I’m going to be painting a mural on the side of the pub, and I feel a real responsibility to make sure it reflects the history of the area and the atmosphere created by all the communities who use the pub.

As part of my research, I went to meet the men and women who make up the regular Monday Drinking Club. I heard so many stories about what the pub was like over the years, including that it had a secret room in the 1950s for men who were part of The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB), one of the largest fraternal movements in the United Kingdom.

I also met with the Autistic Karaoke group. They loved how welcoming the pub is and one local said it was her happy place.

I want the mural I create to reflect the atmosphere of the pub. Many people suggested bright colours to show its welcoming nature.

Live music has been a big part of the pub throughout its history, as well as sport: the Monday Club are particularly keen on horse racing.

Sholing has a strong history of working horses and donkeys. Donkey Common was named after the laundry donkeys who once grazed there.

The pub dates back to 1871, so their beer would have been delivered by horse and cart. You can still see horses grazing in different parts of Sholing and the Botany Bay area in particular has a strong Romany heritage.

I also see the horse as a good metaphor for the strength of the hardworking community.

I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with this project. I have an enormous outside wall to paint.

It’s a great opportunity for me to progress as an artist and I will be helped by two art students from Solent University, Ella Morris and Matt Grove.

Most of my work is community or place inspired, so this is a natural way of working for me. I will produce a series of designs and let Jackie and the pub communities decide on the final design.

I think a pub is the perfect space for making art more accessible. After all, where else are people so willing to engage and discuss everything?

I hope people will enjoy seeing their ideas reflected in the mural and that it also reflects the communities and history of Sholing in a genuine way.

It’s a big responsibility to get this right. Once it’s painted, this artwork will belong to the community.