Like many artists I am an inveterate hoarder and my work reflects this magpie approach to life. A whole project can evolve from the smallest of starting points: a pretty button; an old postcard; a snippet of overheard conversation.

I am also a great organiser: a trait revealed by my predilection for resolving work in the book format. The structure of a book naturally arranges its contents into a sequence, it is a container for information and images, and, like the best containers can hide a wealth of treats within it. This is one of the qualities which I most love in books and which my work celebrates.

A book also contains a wonderful sense of exploration and discovery that encourages viewer participation. It requires physical handling: it is picked up; the front cover is opened; pages are turned. As this is done expectations as to what is to come next can be confirmed or confounded as the book is read. I like to further invite this interaction by making books with a play element.

Integral to all my work is the making process. Hand printing, folding and binding a book or paper object give me a great deal of satisfaction and are a significant feature of the work.

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