publications —
Doctoral Thesis | Ulster University
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I, Object: Bringing Women’s Body Image to the Table in Northern Ireland (Jan 2025)
Journal of Illustration | Intellect
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Risky Objects: Illustrating Situated Body Image Experience (Nov 23)
Working Titles: Journal for Practice Based Research, no. 2 | Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
symposia —
That I cannot tell you either: an autoethnographic illustration practice.
2023 International Symposium on Autoethnography and Narrative| International Association of Autoethnography and Narrative Inquiry, USA (online), Jan 3-5 23.
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Transgenerational Body Image: using illustration methodology to generate critical dialogue.
Transitus: illustration as crossing ground. International Illustration Research Symposium 12 | Falmouth University, UK (online), 15-16 July 22
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Illustration, Clay and the Museum: two case studies exploring women’s body image.
Festival of PhD Research | Ulster University, Belfast, 11-13 May 22
interviews —
Vital Arts: skills for our future with Professor Anna Hickey-Moody (2020)
Interfaith Childhoods | RMIT University, Melbourne
awards —
Top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women (2023)
Women Beyond The Box | UK
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Mary Ann McCracken Scholarship (2021)
Mary Ann McCracken Foundation | Belfast
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Outstanding Contribution to Academic Communities: Faculty of Arts and Humanities (2018)
Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University
exhibitions —
International Association of Illustration Academics | South Australia
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I , object (2023)
I , object | Glass Cube, Belfast School of Art | Belfast
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BeU Project: Storied Objects (Participant work) (2023)
The MAC | Belfast
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trick or treat (2023)
My Body in My Hands | SVA Gallery | Stroud
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the sting (2022)
Reflexo | Echo’s Studio | São Paulo
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that I cannot tell you either (2022)
Between Matter and Words | Paragon Studios | Belfast
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with love x (2019)
Reveries | Espacio Gallery | London
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hung by wires (2019)
Synergic: ArtNumber23 | The Old Biscuit Factory | London
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Where is Theresa May? What has happened to her? (2018)
Taller (2018)
Cavern Men (2017)
Maternity (2017)
Microgynon (2017)
Manchester Art Fair 18 | Manchester
editorial illustration —
ADHD girls: dopamine - reward -dysregulation - reward.
Neurodiversity Times Magazine | online
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International Womens’ Day 19 (Girls like stories, boys like facts; Identity; Microgynon; Maternity; Cavern Men)
Brexit Shambles (Theresa May’s historic Brexit defeat; Where is she? Where is Theresa May?)
School Climate protests (Priorities; Do something!; Blinkers; Toasty, Cosy, Comfy; make the adults stop)
Going solo
Fresher Sounds (under alias Meddies)
The National Student | Online
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positions —
Casual Lecturer (MSc Art Therapy dissertation support) (March-July 2024)
Belfast School of Art | Ulster University, Belfast
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Peer Reviewer (June-July 2023)
International Association of Illustration Academics | South Australia
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Arts Emergency Network Volunteer & Mentor (2023-current)
Arts Emergency | Merseyside
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Casual lecturer in Illustration (dissertation support) (2023)
Belfast School of Art | Ulster University, Belfast
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BeU project: Storied Objects - Workshop designer & facilitator (2023)
The Rainbow Project | Belfast City Council, Belfast
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Mindful Museums - Programme 6 facilitator (online pilot) (2021)
Prescribe Culture | The University of Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
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Research Assistant (2018-2019)
Interfaith Childhoods | Professor Anna Hickey-Moody | RMIT University, Melbourne
connect —
Twitter
Instagram
orchid —
qualifications —
PhD in Illustration (2026) Design Theory, History and Practice: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Belfast School of Art | Ulster University
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Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2022-2023)
Ulster University | Advance HE
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MA Illustration (2016-2018) distinction
Manchester School of Art | Manchester Metropolitan University
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BA (Hons) Illustration (2012-2015) 2:1
Cardiff School of Art and Design | Cardiff Metropolitan University
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Foundation Diploma Art & Design (2012) distinction
The Arts Centre | The City of Liverpool College
My practice-based research makes original contributions to knowledge in illustration terminology and practice, and arts-based research through two related practices: an autoethnographic object illustration practice, made from ceramic, and an illustration-based workshop practice involving these objects. The autoethnography explores my (White) experience of body image and bulimia within a broader cultural context, drawing predominantly on psychology, sociology, and feminist scholarship. The practice is contextualised within the field of illustration and looks to (narrative-based) ceramics theory and practice, further connecting the disciplines. The autoethnographic objects are made in two forms, one of which I define as liminal object illustration.
I designed Storied Objects workshops to engage groups of women in critical discussion and making at the table, laid with the autoethnographic objects. As the liminal object illustrations mimic tableware, their uncanny quality—rooted in social and cultural understandings—helps materialise a threshold at the table, enabling critical reflections, discussions, and object-making to gather women’s voices on body image. Through illustration methods, women’s voices were heard, visualised and connected to body image literature, resulting in a Women’s Storied Objects Archive and a collaborative exhibition called I, object.
This research shows how vulnerability is fundamental to the object illustration engagement, creating a dynamic involving bodily and sensory interpretation, material understandings and lived experiences. Due to the topic’s sensitivity, ethical considerations are discussed throughout. The Storied Objects workshops exemplify trauma-informed, socially engaged illustration practice, underpinned by feminist care ethics. I term this practice (Towards) Care-Full Illustration, made of intertwining threads of vulnerability, care and quiet activism. From this, I designed a framework called the Storied Objects Table, which can be further developed by applied artists and art therapists with socially engaged or community-based practices, as well as for researchers using feminist art-based methods.
Keywords: Autoethnography, Body Image, Ceramics, Feminist Care Ethics, Illustration Research, Object Illustration, Performativity, Socially Engaged Art, Trauma-Informed Practice, Vulnerability.