ABOUT ME
Experience
I am a freelance project manager and creative producer with over 15 years experience of coordinating, managing and delivering creative and cultural projects of all shapes and sizes. In 2005 I co-founded Fourth Wall Creations (FWC), with friend and colleague Cara Flynn. FWC was an innovative creative practice specialising in site-specific and participatory projects, with an emphasis on community engagement. Over 10 years we devised, developed and delivered a variety of art and design projects around the UK for a range of public and private sector clients, including regeneration specialists, local authorities, housing associations, architects, private developers, arts organisations, museums and schools. I now work on a freelance basis, offering my skills and expertise as a specialist consultant in the coordination and successful delivery of complex cultural and heritage projects with multiple stakeholders. I moved back to West Cork from London in April 2017.
Skills
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
2D DESIGN AND 3D MAKING
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
EVENT ORGANISING
RESEARCH
COMMUNICATION
SOCIAL MEDIA
PRESENTATION
EVALUATION
Professional Services
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Project Management & Business Development for Creative & Community-focused SMEs
2012 - present
Drawing on over a decade of experience managing my own business and delivering projects for clients, I now spend some of my time assisting small creative and social enterprises with their day-to-day administration, branding, marketing and strategic development. Among other services, I offer clients help with developing their online marketing and graphic presentation of proposals and other formal documents. Since 2019, I have been employed by University College Cork's Centre for Architectural Education (CCAE) in Cork City, and Carbery Housing Association in West Cork, to work on a number of European projects covering sustainability topics such as renewable energy and culture-led urban regeneration.
During this time I have also started to work with the Wix web design platform and have created a number of new sites for the following organisations:
Software Experience
PHOTOSHOP
AFFINITY CREATIVE
INDESIGN
ILLUSTRATOR
WORD
EXCEL
WIX
Languages
ENGLISH
SPANISH
Creative Producer/Consultant/Curator
2007 - present
As a creative as well as a project manager, I really enjoy bringing my organisational skills to artistic projects and working with other artists and designers to help make amazing things happen. I have extensive experience of leading and being part of creative teams, including commissioning and collaborating with other professionals, both within the creative sphere and beyond. In 2019 I curated my first gallery-based art exhibition 'Alternative Views - New approaches to Landscape' at Blue House Gallery in Schull, West Cork.
Artist/Designer
2005 - present
Creativity is at the heart of everything I do. I have a passion for making things with my hands, creating new experiences and communicating and engaging with the wider public. Since embarking on my professional career in 2005 I have worked as an artist and designer on a diverse range of creative projects. My skills range from traditional drawing and painting to aspects of theatre design, installation art, textiles and costume design. I also have experience of designing for 3D manual and digital fabrication. I love a challenge, trying things I've never done before, and learning new skills. Landscape, environment and community are all key themes that recur in my work. I have carried out many artist residencies in my life, the latest one was at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre in Jan-Feb 2018. In 2019, 2020 and 2021 I was lead artist on the arts centre's section of the Skibbereen St Patrick's Day Parade and will be again in 2022.
Sustainable Communities Advocate
2006 - present
Sustainable community development has been a passion of mine for many years, so when I moved back to West Cork I took the opportunity to really get involved in my own neighbourhood. Since January 2018 I have been volunteering regularly with Skibbereen Community Orchard and manage their social media presence. In 2018 I joined 'Make Skibbereen Grand' (MSG) a group of volunteers who aim to organise and support accessible alternative social and cultural events for local residents during the Winter months. I am also part of the 'Green Skibbereen' group, established in 2019, which plans to set up a local Better Energy Community to encourage local residents and business owners to switch from fossil fuels to renewables, amongst other projects.
Education
MA Creative Practice for Narrative Environments, Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, London
2006 - 2008
After a year of work post-graduation with Fourth Wall Creations, I felt the need for further professional development. I returned to London to undertake a Masters entitled 'Creative Practice for Narrative Environments', at Central St Martins. This innovative course brought together a multi-disciplinary cohort of creative practitioners with an interest in spatial design, including; architects, graphic designers, writers, curators and scenographers. During this exciting 2-year period I developed my academic understanding of narrative theory, as well as technical skills relating to spatial design. I was introduced to the professional sector of Public Art, undertook a work placement at a public art consultancy, and met a career public artist who I would end up working with for several years after.
Joint Honours BA Fine Art/Scenography,
Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, Wales
2002 - 2005
After finishing my secondary school studies in Ireland, I returned to the UK to carry out my third-level studies at Aberystwyth University. Art and Drama were long-standing passions of mine, so I was determined to keep a foot in each camp. After my first year, I switched from Drama to Scenography (Theatre Design), as it was a more natural fit with Fine Art. I found it possible to work in harmony across the two subjects, drawing on the theatre design skills I was learning to create immersive art installations and producing designs for performances inspired by the artists I was studying, such as Christian Boltanski and Joseph Cornell. This was where I met Cara Flynn and we set up Fourth Wall Creations in our final year, before embarking on our first professional project together.