I think most of us have had the more or less enjoyable experience of the diverse medium that has the blanket term "Papier Mâché" applied to it, when we were at school; whether it was in the form of strips of paper stuck to a wire netting base or tissue to a balloon or the thick coarse mush that can be used to make bowls and so much else. I have very fond memories if the smell of hot paper as a new project was drying in the oven, (one of the problems with it is the length of time it takes to dry.)

  

I studied painting and sculpture and worked in the field of illustration and design for some years and became fascinated with the realm of papier mâché  again, making all sorts of things with with my own children, and  also doing various workshops in schools working on a large scale.  

 

I made my first miniature house for my eldest daughter and found it a totally absorbing project. At that time I had no idea of the scales that are worked to and this house had to fit small bears as she was not a 'doll' girl.

What I discovered was the unique challenge of making a three dimensional object  with an interior, and when I discovered lighting and the additional atmosphere it can impart, I was away.

I took part in various fairs in the South of England and gained a place for the first time at the London Dollshouse Festival in 1996. I have also exhibited  at shows including Miniatura at the NEC and Glasgow, the British Toymakers Guild show the 'Art of Play', Tom Bishop's fairs in the UK and Chicago and IGMA in the USA.

 

The British Toymakers Guild  was founded in 1955 to promote excellence in toymaking and now has its annual exhibition at the Oxo Tower On London's South Bank in November. I was winner of the The Doll House Award in 1997 and '99, the BTG Cup and also  the Bryntor Award in '97 and Miniaturist of the year in 1998.

 See the 'Email' me page to get further details of contacts.

 

In recent years I have also greatly enjoyed teaching many of the techniques I have discovered and am so greatful to Pat Cutforth for first persuading me to teach and I hope this has to further popularise the scale  of 1/24.