Email:  imaginedspaces@googlemail.com

And wisdom is a butterfly,
and not a gloomy bird of prey… (WB Yeats)

BSc Psychology/Sociology
MSc Restorative Practices

Personal statement

I am interested in how the areas of peace/reconciliation, creativity/imagination and spirituality can inform and connect to each other.
I am a Quaker.
I live by the sea in Northern Ireland.

Research interests

  • Restorative Justice
  • Creativity and Spirituality
  • Silence, Contemplation, Mysticism
  • Imagination, Art, Reconciliation

 

Courses taught

Advocacy and Empowerment; Conflict Transformation; Reconciliation; Mental Health and Mediation; Film and Reconciliation

Current projects

  • The looming Male – a creative and multi-storied exploration of maleness
  • Heaven and Hell – images of inclusion and exclusion in culture, conflict and contemplation
  • Christmas in the Holy land – stories and poems around three ‘holy lands’: living in the Holy Land (Belfast); working in Jerusalem; the ‘Christmas Texts in the Christian Tradition

Representative publications

  • Between the Bells (2019) - stories of reconciliation from Corrymeela
    (Canterbury Press)
  • Just for one day (2018) – a memorial art project for those who died in the Northern Ireland conflict.
  • A day being brave (2017) - Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission – a documentary film about mental health, youth and human rights.

The choices we made (2016) – documentary film (Writer/Producer/Director)

Sequel to Upstanding, focusing on six true stories about individual responses to sectarianism and violence

  • Waiting and Silence (2015) – documentary film (Writer/Producer/Director)
    An exploration of silence in society. In particular, the role of silence within the Quaker Tradition in Northern Ireland.
  • Upstanding (2013)
    [Writer/Producer/Director]
    A documentary film with a focus on the courageous efforts and actions of ten everyday people who tackled prejudice, discrimination and violence.
  • Writing the Changes (2009)
    Book of poems/photographs, published in conjunction with Ulster Museum re-launch in October 2009
  • Taking the Lead (2009) – Shortlisted artist to represent NI as 2012 Olympic Artist
  • A-Z of Cant.  (2007)

Artist in Residence at Solstice Arts Centre Navan, exploring Irish Traveller traditions, past and present. This five-month residency culminated in a multi-media exhibition featuring text-posters, photographs, a short film and sculptural pieces.

  • Dubh - Ambient CD (2005) Proost Records
    Writer/musician/performer
  • Night News  (Jan 2005)
    Limited edition book illustrating of art-event in April 2004 with teenagers from East Belfast. Chalk slogans on the Lower Newtownards Road. Photographs/text. 
  • Shrink Rap (1999) (Writer/Director)

A documentary film about the role of Psychiatry within the Health Service

  • Whats UP? (1997) (Writer/Director)

A documentary film about User Participation in the field of Mental Health

Education

BSc Psychology/Sociology
MSc Restorative Practices

Previous positions

  • Director of Corrymeela Peace Centre (2009/14)
  • NI Association for Mental Health Centre: Coordinator; Area Manager (1990-2003)
  • Associate Lecturer –University of Ulster (1999-2001)
  • Neighbourhood Renewal Advisor (North West England – 2006/8)

Professional affiliations/activities

  • Commissioner on NI Parades Commission (2014- present)
  • Visiting Professor – Schulich School of Law
    [Dalhousie University (2015- present)]
  • Senior Associate (Mediation NI)
  • Mediator for housing conflicts (Tides Training and Consultancy)
  • Member of Thinkbucket (Art Collective)

Grants received

  • ACNI Award in conjunction with Corrymeela (2011) – community photographic exhibition.
  • The Beginning and End of Belfast (Jan 2010)
    ACNI Award to produce a series of photographs and text-pieces recording the artists walk around the edges of Belfast
  • Recipient of Arts Council Northern Ireland Individual Artists Award (Nov 2005) to produce a body of poems about East Belfast, to be performed as part of a multi-media event in 2006. 
  • ACNI Artist in the Community Award (2004)
    Working exclusively in East Belfast with teenagers, the temporarily homeless and paramilitaries.

Interests

Silence, story, imagination.