Valerie Haslam

I am a multidisciplinary socially engaged artist, researcher, creative associate and graphic designer, passionate about everyday creativity. My work blends several practices together through art, ecoart, craft and digital media. As a mature student, I have recently completed the MA in Arts and Engagement, which culminated with my research project reflecting on the outcomes and concepts discovered within the process of intergenerational skill and knowledge sharing through hand making traditional artefacts and how this instils wellbeing for the participants. I believe that it is through exposing all generations to everyday creativity that we will reconnect with the hand made and our traditional craft skills promotion improved health and wellbeing for future generations.

Using arts-based sensory and tactile and experiential crafts, participating in collaborative sustainable EcoArts, textile art, clay, alternative printing process, I strive to work with materials that are sustainably natural and plentiful to inspire, promote awareness and foster change for participants, to consider tools and materials, supporting everyday creativity through crafts. The arts has always been part of my life, however since the MA, I am exploring alternative printing processes using Clay, Botanical Printing, Anthotype and Cyanotype with natural materials on hand made paper or fabrics. I also make my own inks and dyes from the plants I grow.