East Durham Artists Network

I have always been interested in the arts, but it was not until I joined Edan in 2008 that I began to consider seriously how I might develop my own creative practice. Previously, as a youth and community work practitioner and teacher I had been involved in community arts, and I continue to be interested in the potential of the arts within informal education and community development work. I joined Edan in 2008 on the basis of my interest in creative writing and photography, but my contact with other Edan artists encouraged me to think about how I might use other skills and interests more creatively. These included everything from the knitting and embroidery I learned as a child, through my interest in local landscape and wild flowers, to my knowledge of historical and social research methods. Through Edan I have also learned to use other media such as calligraphy, collage and lino printing. I have become particularly interested in Lino printing and textiles. Art for me is primarily a means of communicating and connecting with others. I want my finished pieces to say something about how I see and understand the world. I want them to include ideas and perhaps contain different layers of meaning, but I don’t want the work to be difficult or obscure. It makes me happy if the viewer identifies with what I have done and I am especially happy if some reflection and conversation emerges from that. ​ More of Jean's work can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1376886472