My name is Philippa and I have always been surrounded by art. My mother is a creative who filled our home with arts and crafts from a young age. We spent many years living across diverse cultures and I loved to watch the local artisans work their magic. In West Africa We used to go down to the markets just we could watch them bring life out of a plain lumps of wood, turn old cans into working model cars and chip packets into wearable art. I still have and cherish many of the treasures found in those far flung artists villages.

As I grew up I didn’t always know what I wanted to be but I did always know that I loved to learn and make new things. I loved learning old traditional art forms like lace making and blending it into a modern setting. Despite the many twists and turns my life has taken art has always been the most constant. After I had children I realised that it was more than just a weekend hobby, it was my therapy. Art and craft was how I could ground myself when life seemed hectic and overwhelming. During long hospital stays during each of my pregnancies it was crafting that kept my hands and mind busy so I didn’t loose myself to the small white rooms. Over the years I have grown my skills and art forms and I’m always looking for new things to learn.

While my children were still small I joined local community groups and found a place to share my arts and crafts. I started to teach the other mums basic sewing skills so they could mend uniforms and make new clothes. I taught them skills they could use to make some extra money for their families. It was here that my passion for teaching blossomed.

My passion for developing inclusive arts programs has only grown over the years. I want to make sure that everyone has access to learning no matter what body they are in.

Everyone is an artist - Joseph Beuys