How do you describe what you do?
I predominantly specialize in illustration and printmaking. Interested in the contemporary social mirrors embedded within today's society, I often use social media to feed my inspiration and tend to reflect my themes in a contrastingly physical environment. However, as of more recent, I've been taking a softer approach to my themes and am just enjoying making things that aren't too serious or kind of entertain me.
How did you start in art / design?
I always focused on my art studies through school, and carried on to study Art and Photography at A-level. From then I took an Art Foundation course at Colchester Institute where I specialised in Illustration and then after a short hiatus, I went back to Institute (AKA, Colchester School of Art) to complete my BA (Hons) Fine Art.
What would your top tips be for anyone considering taking up art/design?
Don't overthink it, and don't make your work to please someone else - make it for you, and if other people like it, it's a bonus!
When you have the dreaded creative block, where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?
Honestly, I'm not very good at dealing with creative blocks. I guess it's good to just try and keep doing some small observational drawings during this time, and eventually inspiration will come from what is around you.
What piece of work or project are you most proud of?
I really loved my degree show as it was one of the few times I've really been able to work ambitiously in terms of scale and what I could achieve. However, since graduating, I got chosen for an Artist Residency with Saffron Walden Museum x Snapping the Stiletto, to reimagine the concept of an 'Essex Girl'. I ended up producing a screen printed wall hanging, focused around a stiletto tool that was shown within the museum. The tool was used within the textile industry to form holes in fabric, and was named after the stiletto dagger due to its shape and sharp point. When this object's scale was blown up onto the wall hanging, it suddenly became quite a powerful symbol. The back of the wall hanging was a collaborative print, produced by myself and a group of ladies who attended a monotype workshop during my time on the residency. I took their final prints, scanned them, and reproduced them into a single, collage style photo silkscreen.
Any books on your shelf or exhibitions and events coming up you can recommend?
I take a lot of pleasure from photo books and illustrated books at the moment. Hoxton Mini Press always have a lovely range of beautifully curated books - some that I can recommend include Funland by Rob Ball and Launderama by Joshua Blackburn. As for illustrated books, I can recommend Soppy by Phillipa Rice, Bad Island by Stanley Donwood and Issun Bôshi by Icinori.
Why is Colchester Makerspace important to you/or and your work?
I think spaces like Makerspace are really important as it makes the unachievable, achievable. Having access to facilities like these aren't possible for a lot of people as this equipment is expensive (and big!) and it's just really important in helping people to achieve their full creative potential. I'm certainly grateful for having access to such a wonderful space, and found this particularly prominent after finishing my degree.
Heidi’s work will be on display and available to buy for the month of June at Patch in front of the Makerspace at Trinity Works.
You can also book to attend one of Heidi’s workshops at Colchester Makerspace here for Linocutting or the Risograph.