Armada Developments...

I've been running away with the Armada this weekend.

Behold the grand birth of Phillip II of Spain. (Big Thanks to Mark R).

A bit of a pansy, but nevertheless ooozing Iberian charm, he is cultivating an artistic Salvador Dali Moustache and will wear a frill-laden ruff upon his dainty neck.














In the following days Phil will be brought to life by pupils of Wey Valley School; proudly surveying his flanks from a great Spanish galleon. (Flanks of other galleons, not buttocks.)







Below, Elizabeth in construction, with and without skin, together with young people from Royal Manor School who have been building her in the last week, what a fantastic bunch they are.

Me and my dog George as Christmas elves. Wrong time of year? Oh yeah.

Done nothing but build puppets in the back yard, Phill of Spain is now 13 foot tall, and forever expanding. He is sporting a pair of the most enormous pantaloons you have ever seen.

Pop Up and Armada Developments

More birthday cards, this one I really enjoyed doing.

I am spending all my time making, today worked with 30 school children on Portland making waves from willow and tissue paper, made a nasty mess on the newly polished floor with blue dye which took ages to remove,, lots of unhappy teachers scrubbing the floor when they should have been going home... But it was fun and energetic and the kids loved it. The waves will form an important part of the Armada on the Esplanada procession.

Making a massive Elizabeth I in the living room, from waist upwards she is so far 5 foot and has an armspan of about 6 foot, complete with english flag in one hand and a sword in the other. She looks more like Terminator and should be wielding a machine gun.


Here are the models for the Armada, except there will be 100s more waves and galleons and it will be in glorious technicolour.

I've been making this pop up card for my nephew Theo, who was born on April 7th, miles away in deep snowy Switzerland. Does anyone else think it should snow all year round in Switzerland? It just has the right kind of name, Father Christmas should be stuffing things down chimneys all year there.
Anyway, it's all pop up with tissue paper mosaic, and very colourful. Turned the 'wrong' way round the peices have a ghostly mystical quality about them with muted colours and the shapes seem to be layered on several horizons.

Armada Down the Esplanada

This summer Maggie Foottit and I will be working with 45 school kids in Weymouth and Portland on a spectacular piece of Carnival Procession for the Spirit of the Sea Festival in Weymouth, Dorset, on July 12th.

Inspired by Weymouth's role in defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588, we will be creating a scene of royal resplendence; a giant Queen Liz I, with jewells, wig and all, and similalrly large King Phil of Spain; a bit of a panzy with flowing locks, bows and puffs; all fantastically swashbuckling and nautical. Both puppets will be constructed out of willow and tissue paper. The monarchs will be flanked by fleets of billowing galleons, and rasping waves, complete with streamers and ribbons.

Here's the more corporate bit - Spirit of the Sea is a nine day festival of independently organised and funded marine events that sit under the title name 'Spirit Of The Sea'. The festival involves local businesses, organisations, and people and is part of the cultural build up to the 2012 UK Olympics. The cultural Olympiad. The event also includes the 2012 Weymouth and Portland hosted Olympic sailing events. If you are a local artist and want to get involved in the Cultural Olympiad you may wish to join Weymouth Artists Network (WAN).

Garden workshop with Satellite Arts went well

A 2 hour evening workshop using potatoe prints, colour misting and stencil work on long sheets of lining paper, forming a single backdrop. This will be used as a set for a small performance in the Chesil Marine Garden. Youtube video to follow.

Spirit of the Sea website

Emerald ant is involved with the Moving Tide childrens carnival, details need updating

Spirit of the Sea - Home

New for 2008
Weymouth & Portland hosts the first ever Spirit of the Sea Maritime Festival combining all the resort's most popular events plus many new attractions