November 09

Another exciting Creative Partnerships Project! This time working with staff at The Boswells School in Chelmsford, teaching them animation skills that can be utilised in their classes. I wish I had been able to do animation in Maths lessons when I was at school!

October 09

Ive been working with Media Projects East again, this time at The Electric Palace Cinema in Harwich where they hosted a film making club for 11- 14 year olds. The young people met locals from the RNLI, Maritime Museum and the High Lighthouse. Inspired by the stories they heard, they created a series of short films about Harwich's seafaring history.

The finished work will be presented in the cinema as part of Storytelling Week in January 2010 celebrating the work of local writers and film makers, and aspects of local history.

Ive been sculpting and have made a portfolio of fossil designs with the intention of casting them in reconstituted limestone. More images and details on buying a numbered and limited edition cast soon.

Ive been hurredly rushing my entry into the Aniboom/Marvel motion comic competition, Its been a lot of work, but I finally manged to submit the product of hours of tinkling with hundreds of digital layers.

Just wish I had more time to polish it!

September 09

Another stint as drama coordinator in the Garibaldi school, Chiavenna, northern Italy this year turned out to be an excellent experience.

Thanks to all the EE staff who pulled together for one of the best performances the camp has seen yet, and another wonderful Italian host family.

August 09

Its August again so that means the hugely successful Norwich City Council run Kidzones are on throughout the cities parks. I will be there with the Norwich Puppet Theatre team running free mask and puppet workshops, so why not come down and join the fun!

July 09

The Forum in Norwich are hosting a week of exciting animal themed events including exhibitions, performances and workshops, all coinciding with the first week of the summer holidays. I was running todays Marine Mobiles workshop which proved a hit, with over 130 children going home with brightly decorated sea creatures to hang from their ceiling.

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of stewarding the excellent Piff-Paff theatre company, from Sheffield. Their show "Honey" vibrantly explores the crucial role of the Bee in our ecosystem, through animations, songs and puppetry.

Lord Mayors Procession 2009

I'm presently working with the lovely folks from Tin House theatre company, Tim and Ali, making giant puppets for this years Lord Mayors Celebration in Norwich. The centre piece to the Marlpit Massive float is a 18ft telescoping puppet that I will be operating. Its huge!

You can find a newspaper photo here

May, June, July 2009

The last few months have been pretty hectic with lots of different projects on the go, some of the high lights have included...

Dragon puppet workshops in Irstead church. Part of the Art Alive in churches weekend.

Maybug Mobiles and Monsters Vs Aliens Workshops for Norwich Puppet Theatre.

Months working with pupils at Alderman Peel High, Wells Next the Sea. Creating films, animations, prints, textiles and final exhibition and screening. A successful Creative Partnerships project.

Working with North Walsham High and IROKO theatre company on sets for a school performance exhibited outside the Forum, Norwich

Animation and Puppetry workshops with pupils from Alpington School

I've also been in the studio doing some graphics and web design, and squeezed in a few acting jobs!

April 2009

Squid at the Smithsonian.

The very nice folk at the Smithsonian Institute (America's national educational facility with 19 museums, 9 research centers and over 140 affiliate museums around the world.) Have very kindly hosted my short animation about Dr. Clyde Roper, their resident expert on cephalopods. (That's squid and octopus incase you didn't know!) It's already had over a thousand hits and can be seen on my Youtube page, here or on the Smithsonian Giant Squid page here.

February 2009

Here be Dragons!

I recently had the opportunity to run a puppet workshop in Norwich Cathedral on behalf of the Puppet Theatre. It was all part of Norwich Dragon Festival a unique celebration of dragons in the history and culture of our city with around 40 events in over 15 venues over the three weeks.

Those who came to the free event had a fantastic time and made some excellent dragons. Its all been thanks to Norwich 12 and HEART the Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust.

January 2009

Penguins on Parade!

The Penguins from the Cauldwell Children project have been out on display in the Norwich Forum building. Some of the kids involved turned up for the official presentation, as did the local press.