I create fabulous Masquerade and Theatre Costumes complete with masks, headdresses and jewellery.
I present ‘Historical Fashions Shows’, Lectures/Talks and Costume Displays.
Click on the headlines above to read about our exciting events.
We have just presented a total of nine fashion shows at Belsay Hall in Northumberland – over two thousand visitors attended. My stunning Tudor Costume display is currently at Belsay in the beautiful ‘Drawing Room ‘ – until May 27th. Please read my new posts ’Tudor Display at Belsay’ , ‘Interview with Julia’and ‘Period Portraits’. Please click link in the post ‘Broadcast at Belsay’ and you can listen to me on Radio Newcastle.
I studied at Sunderland University and Nottingham Trent University graduating with a BA (Hons) Theatre Design. I worked in Theatres in the Midlands before going on to design and produce costumes privately. During my period at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre I worked on a major production of ‘My Fair Lady’ starring Tony Britton and Liz Robertson. I created jewellery for Dame Anna Neagle who played the part of Professor Higgins’ Mother.
I present talks/costume events to groups about the design and construction of my outfits using a selection of costumes mannequins to illustrate my design techniques. These talks have proved to be very popular with all types of groups.
I appeared on BBC Look North wearing my costumes for a photo shoot at a local stately hall in Durham. My husband and I have also appeared together in costume at Crook Hall. Recently we traveled to Durham to publicise ‘World Book Day’. I have also been interviewed by a North-East based online magazine called sheVue. Click on the YouTube panel above to see exciting video created by euvue.
As part of Newcastle Fashion Week I presented a display called ‘Kings and Queens in Costume’ at Newcastle City Library – it proved to be very popular. I have also displayed my Henry VII Costume and costume accessories at Gosforth Library.
Venues for my Historical Fashion Shows have included Newcastle, Carlisle and Edinburgh. My Edinburgh Show (which was part of the Festival of Museums) was presented at Trinity Apse – a 15th Century Church which provided a stunning backdrop for my costumes. The event proved to be very popular indeed – feedback was tremendous. Costumes from the show were used for a photo shoot in the centre of Edinburgh – see my website for the stunning photographs taken in unusual settings and take a look below at video we shot at the event.
I presented a stunning costume display for Belsay Hall in Northumberland and four fabulous fashion shows of period costumes for the ‘Fashion from the Past Weekend’ arranged by English Heritage last year.
I have also presented a talk about the design and construction of my costumes as part of the ‘Lauriston lectures’ at Lauriston Castle near Edinburgh and a fantastic Fashion Show at Darras Hall for the Northumberland WI.
In Stockton in Teesside I organised a ‘Tudor Fashion Show’ to celebrate the reopening of the splendid new Central Library.
I have also presented a costume event for North Tyneside Council which proved very popular indeed – it was reported that ‘the venue could have been filled twice over’ – read more about this event in my post above - Wonderful Wallsend.
Last April we presented a Fashion show at the exciting Royal Armouries in Leeds which proved to be very popular – the tournament gallery was full to capacity.
Following our success at Belsay Hall for English Heritage last year we have just finished a costume display for Belsay Hall in Morpeth – it was preceded by nine of our fashion shows during the recent Bank Holiday Weekend – over two thousand people attended our events.
We are presenting a lot of exciting Period Fashion Shows and very interesting talks about costume design/construction this year so please read my ‘Calendar of Events for 2012′.