Awarded the 'Queen Elizabeth Scholarship' for excellence in British Crafts 2006.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust for the Royal Warrant Holders.

MiniBeasts Mosaic – Carpenters Road Nursery School, Stratford, London

Creating Identity and ownership, artworks in our environment

Since Gary's first murals working with unemployed people in Haringey he has been committed to education work and a community aware approach. In over twenty years his experience has covered a wide range of community activity from passing on skills at masterclasses for MA students in Art and Architecture to introducing artists into primary schools. Gary has worked with people with physical and mental disabilities, from nursery schools to residential homes for the elderly and Black and Women’s groups.

Lewisham Street Rhythms Mural combines photos, poetry and fabric pattern

"One of my primary aims in community work is to produce an artwork of the highest standard. I believe that work produced by community groups should reflect the highest aspirations of the community in the quality of its workmanship. All of my workshops are aimed to give the participants a unique insight into how artists work and to stimulate creative and challenging thinking. Through these workshops I aim to give people a chance to transform their own environment by working together and valuing the input of all those involved. I still learn a great deal and find working in the community exciting and stimulating."

COMMUNITY GROUPS WORKED WITH INCLUDE

• Erith Detached Youth Scheme DEA • Bedford Museum • Wellwrites Poetry Group, Welling • National Maritime Museum Youth Project • Hargreaves House Tenants Association, Bolton • East Herts Youth Service Arts Project, Cheshunt • Opera North Community Opera, Leeds • Broadwater Farm Youth Association, Tottenham • Hockwell Ring Carnival children’s art workshop • Haringey MSC unemployed workers group • Waluds House, residential home for people with learning difficulties • TUC Centre for the Unemployed, Luton • The Alder Project Women's Group, Luton • Sherd Lodge, residential home for the elderly, Luton • Marsh Farm Library, Luton • Hockwell Ring Community Centre, Luton • 12th Carshalton Guides, Sutton • Sutton Library drop-in arts workshop'93, Sutton • Sutton Library drop-in arts workshop'94, Sutton • Whitehorse Road Community Centre Workshops, Croydon • Stop the Clause Campaign n Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights • Archway Summer Arts Project, London N1 • Hockwell Ring youth workers group, Luton • Stratford Shopping Centre, drop-in mosaic workshop • Chingford Hall Youth Club • Chingford Hall Tenants Drop-in • Burwood After Schools Club n The Samuel Coleridge-Taylor centre • South Norwood CET • South Norwood Library Drop-in mosaic workshop • Bhagini Girls Group, Leicester • West End Neighbourhood Centre • Doncaster Poetry Group • Chiddingford Brownies • Britwell Youth Project, Slough • Lincoln Methodist Church Reminiscence Group • Eversholt Village community • The Full Circle Project • Feltham Mosaic Arts Group •

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Mosaics in Schools Flyer

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Murals in Schools Flyer