The Fernakins

Penelope is a mixed media artist whose work is inspired by her travels, cultural background and the imaginative Celtic storytelling of her childhood. Her studies and work in education, art, design, the natural and built environment bring together an eclectic response to the world and the environment, both locally and globally. Her work examines the narrative, reflecting stories of culture, history and migration along with the influences that often occur. Her concerns for the environment are demonstrated through the aim to recycle, reuse and reduce through mixed media application, creating various layers of complex interactions. Her majors in painting and printmaking combined to produce mixed media materials such as recycled newspaper and magazine cutouts to gold leaf. These combine into many layers through the exploration of developing concepts. She has always had a passion for teaching and has taught from reception to adults up to 80 years of age, both formally in institutions and from her own studio, with the desire to motivate the true potential of each student. Her Master of Art Education (Portraiture as Identity and Methodology) looked at developing the unique potential of individual students. Her studies in social science motivate the life cycle of death and renewal. After years of working in education, community arts and as a gallery director, she draws together a lifetime of experience, but at the heart lies a passion for the environment and storytelling.