What I have been working on:

Over the last year I have been working on a new digital artwork which is just back from the printers and ready to be installed for unveiling on Monday, 10th November 2014.

Here is a little teaser:

A detail from the Artwork named "EXCEPTIONAL CHANGES", which celebrates the numerous  changes which have happened at York St John university, under the leadership of Prof Fleming over the relatively short period of the past 5 years.

 It especially commemorates the handing over of the old student Association of the Colleges of Ripon and York St John, created in the 1890's to the alumni society created in 2008.

I will post full images after the unveiling.

the Darton Centre Project

Past - Present - Future

The Darton Centre project is completed and installed.  It will be officially be opened on Friday 2nd December.   The treasured old building of the Darton Urban District Council has been celebrated in the artwork produced for the New Darton Centre, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire through engagement with the community, local history group, children's centre, high school and former councillors and employees of the Darton U.D.C.  An artefact trail guides visitors through the various items of historical value salvaged from the former building and leads towards the artwork and oral history audio recording.

Audio unit with  Art Deco door handles from the former Darton Urban District Council Offices

Detail of  artwork on aluminium composite panel. 

Endeavour: Hospitals in Whitby over Time

Artwork produced for Residency at Whitby Hospital, commissioned by Hafney (Hospital Art for North East Yorkshire), 2010. 

Endeavour, a history of hospitals in Whitby over time where records show the first hospital in 1109 by Spital Bridge until the present hospital on Spring Hill and the same site as the 1925 War Memorial Hospital built with donations from Whitby Residents themselves - truly their hospital. 

Digital Print on aluminium composite,

2400 mm x 700 mm .

Research, photographs, history and anecdotal history gathered with input from the staff at Whitby Hospital.  Maps, photos, postcards and archives gathered with the help of the Literary and Philosophical society at the Whitby Museum in Pannett Park.  www.whitbymuseum.org.uk

A second work was designed for the Day Unit  to give the dark end of a corridor a view onto Whitby.

Trompe L'Oeil, a view of Whitby

digital print on Aluminium composite

1000 mm x 600 mm

Photographs by Nurses Jo Richardson and Shirley Wood,

Digital Composition by Catherine Scriven.

Heritage Public Work

Alumni Abundantes, 1841 - 2010
Complete work displayed,  6 x 1000 mm x 750 mm
Printed on anodised aluminium

Supported by the Association of The Colleges of Ripon and York St John. 

“You have produced a wonderful reflection on the history of the two Colleges.”

John Maw, MBE, Honorary Fellow.

Former Vice Chancellor Professor Dianne Willcocks, CBE, said:

“Catherine’s remarkable installation piece is a real tribute to the creativity and professionalism of our York St John alumni. She has produced a wonderful artwork that honours generations of York St John students and inspires us with hope and confidence for the future. It truly reflects the university motto “ut vitam habeant et abundantius” - that they shall have life and have it in abundance.”

March 2010.

Here is the sequence of panels :

1841 -1890's

1890's - 1920's

1920's -1940's

1940's - 1960's

1960's - 1980's

1980's - 2010.

I was very grateful for the opportunity to produce this piece and gain access to the archives for the University which covers the rich history and heritage of the colleges of Ripon and York St John and the development toward Univesity status.  When Roddy Hunter, John Maw and I looked at a focus for this heritage piece in the archives the long narrow photographs of the past students (alumni) caught our attention.  It was decided to make them the centre of the work.  This is where the title of the work has been derived from, the abundance of past students or alumni.  It is also based on the motto of the University which  is: "Ut Vitam Habeant et Abundantius".  Translated as "That they may have life and in abundance".  I think the archives were proof of the fulfilment of this motto. 

I am also very grateful to all the past students who attended the Archive roadshow day in 2009 and shared there memories and experiences of their time at the colleges.  They highlighted their respect for the buildings which were part of the campuses, the strong connections to the church represented by both Ripon Cathedral and York Minster, the different routines and the change which occured in the 1960-70's.  This change was echoed in the archives as the photographs changed from black and white to colour.  With the testimony of past students in mind, the intention for this piece is to make some of the archives visible to all students so that they can share in the rich history of the University, the developments over time, the connection to the community and  foster pride for their university. Ultimately this piece is about people over time.

'Alumni Abundates' is displayed in a corridor in the Quad on the Lord Mayor's site of York St John University.  It is in a corridor that connects the front entrance to the centre of the Quad (Main old Building) and fondly referred to by past students as 'windy passage'.  I like to think I have added to this by bring in a visual form of wind of change which occured over the last 169 years.  The corridor is the start of the Heritage Trail which is a walk round the campus of York St John.

Unveiling of Heritage Public Work: Alumni Abundantes

Click here to view Press release from York St John University

Alumni Abundantes, 1841 -2010.

A 6 metre piece, 6 aluminium panels printed with layered digital photographs based on the archives of Ripon, York St John colleges and now University. 

 159 years of heritage, development and abundant  past students.

Digital layered photographs printed on anodised aluminium panels, 6 of 1m x 750 mm each.