‘Broken But Well Put Together - My MA Journey’

After two years of studying, researching, making, travelling between Birmingham and Manchester and questioning pretty much everything about my practice, I have finally submitted my Master’s in Craft at Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester School of Art.

My final project, Broken But Well Put Together, has been one of the most challenging, personal and rewarding projects I have ever undertaken.

Why did I do a Master’s?

When I told people in 2024 that I was going to do my Master’s, I had a real mix of responses.

Some people were incredibly supportive. Others asked, “But why?”

The simple answer is: because I wanted to.

I am a self-employed entrepreneur, an educator, a mother and an artist. I have spent years building my creative practice and my business, creating projects that help people share their stories and voices.

I am also responsible for my own personal and professional development. I don't work for someone else who will handle that for me.

But more than anything, I wanted to do something for me

Not the business owner.
Not the educator.
Not the mom.

Just me.

I wanted time to develop my own practice, learn something new and see how I could develop.

Two years in Manchester

Every week I did the commute.

There were early starts, late evenings, long journeys.. Sometimes I was tired, sometimes completely exhausted. There were also times when I had to race back to Birmingham to take my youngest to basketball training.

It wasn't always easy. But it gave me something I hadn't realised I needed: time and space to think.

Time to experiment.

Time to question my work.

Time to develop as an artist.

And, perhaps most importantly, time to focus on something that was mine and not attached to funded project or service..

My final assignment

This wasn't just an important research project; it was deeply personal.

The project transforms personal experiences and anonymous questionnaire responses into a series of four bears, each representing a different stage of life.

I wanted the work to have a visual impact, but I also wanted people to stop and think about what might be hidden underneath the surface.

One of the most important parts of my research was an anonymous questionnaire about men's experiences and emotions.

The questionnaire was anonymous because I wanted people to feel able to be honest. I needed them to trust me, and their responses became a huge part of the final work.

The responses helped me understand the experiences behind the subject I was exploring and gave me real voices to respond to through my artwork.

I didn't want the questionnaire to simply sit alongside the bears as research. I wanted the responses to become part of them.

The largest bear includes questionnaire responses within its clothing, using cyanotype printing and digital embroidery.

Anonymous words became visible.

That was exactly what I wanted the project to do.

I was trusted with the thoughts and experiences of 124 men.

Some I knew, some I didn't.

And because the responses were anonymous, I will never know who said what.

These bears are my message to every single person who responded.

And to those who didn't...

I see you. ❤️

What I gained from my Masters?

I started the MA thinking I was going to develop my craft practice.

I did, but I also gained so much more.

I learnt how to research more deeply, question my ideas and develop my work with more confidence.

I learnt to take my own practice seriously.

I became more confident talking about my work academically and professionally.

Most importantly, I grew as an artist and as a person.

During my time at MMU, I had the opportunity to exhibit work through Art School commissions; I was invited to speak about my practice and my work was recognised outside Birmingham.

These opportunities came much earlier than I expected and gave me the confidence to see that my work has a place outside of my hometown.

And now it's finished, what's next?

I'm not completely sure yet.

I know I'm not the same artist who started this MA journey in 2024. I have more ideas and a much clearer understanding of my practice.

And that has made me think about what comes next, not just for me as an artist, but for Feed My Creative too.

Feed My Creative has been such an important part of my journey for just over 10 years. It has allowed me to combine creativity, community and sustainability, and to create projects that give other people a chance to share their stories and develop their own creativity.

But after two years of studying, developing my own practice and looking at my work in a different way, I know I need to take some time to think about what I want the next chapter to look like.

I'm not sure exactly what is going to happen with Feed My Creative yet.

And for once, I'm okay with not having all the answers.

Last year, I asked for a reset.

This MA became part of that reset.

It allowed me to stop, think, experiment and grow.

Now one chapter has finished.

Another is beginning.

What that looks like, I don't know yet.

But I do know one thing...

Change is coming.