Parables and The Good Life

I make bold, colourful sculptures using recycled materials, creating a next life for unwanted objects.

My work is influenced by a childhood of parables with hidden messages and parents with a 'Good Life' philosophy - Grow Your Own, Make Your Own and Recycle.  It makes me smile to remember.  I'm sure it was often done out of financial necessity, but that mentality has stayed with me.  

I was named after a wildlife documentary maker, Michaela Denis and as my namesake I have always been inspired and curious about animals and nature and fascinated by it's exuburance and fragility.  Working with recycled 'ingredients' helps me to reuse materials that are normaly added to landfill and so do my small part in trying to preserve our environment.  I try to only use secondhand objects, so I collect, reclaim and forage and love receiving donations of materials from friends and customers.

My collections are statement pieces intended to be playfully serious, of little parables about our lives today.  They start as pages of words and ideas, and are interpreted using recycled and found objects with decoupage, assemblage and stitch.  The pieces are visions of my imagination mixed with realities, depicting scenarios of animals, people and nature.

My artworks are flirtatious sculptures with hidden secrets for your home.  They add a colourful twist and talking point to make your space unique and eclectic.  They focus on telling stories through unusual materials, to become objects that are cherished, loved and bring you pleasure.

I do also work to commission.  All my pieces are individual and one-off, so if you are looking for something particular, please ask - and I'll start looking!