About the Artist

Jenny Clayden trained as a theatre designer and worked for 15 years in various fringe companies including the Young Vic in London. In the course of her work she made props, such as puppets, masks and a pantomime horse, in papier mâché. When she moved to the Isle of Wight in 1989 she began experimenting in this medium for her own amusement and found it so expressive that it has become her main creative interest.

She designs and makes figures of all sizes in papier mâché, from life-size down to thumb-size, and these are character studies rather than cartoon figures. Her ideas come mainly from seeing the funny side of things and having previously worked as a theatre designer, her approach is dramatic and colourful; but for each of her 8 solo exhibitions she has considered and developed the more serious aspects of the themes: 'Anything for a Laugh', 'Let's keep Dancing', 'Identity', all have their darker sides.

Jenny has had solo exhibitions of her work both on the Island and the mainland and has successfully completed many commissions, including two life-size figures for the Island 'Java' project, and a 3ft. model for Jongleurs comedy club, of their logo figure .

Examples of her papier mâché can be seen on her website:

www.jennyclayden.co.uk

Exhibitions

June 2006

Solo exhibition, Rope Store, Quay Arts, IOW . 'Identity'

November 2005

Bluestone Gallery, Devizes, Christmas Exhibition

August 2005

Unique Crafts Gallery, Bembridge

June 2004

Michael West Gallery, IOW, joint exhibition, 'Artefacts' Quay Craftsmen

May 2004

Rivers Gallery, Nailsworth, Glos., summer exhibition.

December 2003

ArtSway Open, New Forest, 'View'

July 2003

Michael West Gallery, IOW, Quay Arts Open, 'Disco'

June 2003

Houses of Parliament, joint exhibition, Quay Craftsmen

January 2003

Desmoulin Gallery, Newbury, joint exhibition, Quay Craftsmen

December 2002

Solo exhibition, Alchemist Gallery, Yarmouth, IOW 'Celebrations'

May 2002

Whitefield Gallery, Totland, IOW, summer exhibition

May 2002

Michael West Gallery, IOW, 'Feast for the Eyes', joint exhibition, Quay Craftsmen

March 2001

Solo exhibition, The Old Bakehouse, Fishbourne, Chichester 'Wedding Party'

November 2000

Black Swan, Frome, Bath 'Paper Art'

August 2000

Solo exhibition, Quay Arts, IOW 'Lets Keep Dancing'

April 1999

Joint exhibition, Walford Milll, Wimborne, 'Quay Craftsmen'

February 1999

Quay Arts, IOW, 'Quay Open 99'

February 1999

Joint exhibition, St Barbe, Lymington, 'Quay Craftsmen'

November 1998

Rope Store, Quay Arts, IOW, 'Paperwork'

August 1998

Solo exhibition, Pallant House, Chichester, 'A Different View'

April 1998

Joint exhibition, Rope Store, Quay Arts, IOW, 'New Twists' Quay Craftsmen

September 1996

Quay Arts Open, 'Transitions', Michael West Gallery, IOW

July 1996

Solo exhibition, Havant Arts Centre, 'Anything for a Laugh'

May 1996

Joint exhibition, Michael West Gallery, Quay Arts, IOW 'Quay Craftsmen'96'

January 1994

Solo exhibition, Trinity Arts Centre, Tunbridge Wells, 'Such Stuff as Dreams are Made on'

November 1993

Solo exhibition, Quay Arts, IOW, 'Such Stuff as Dreams are Made on'.

June 1993

Bembridge Arts Week, IOW

October 1992

Joint exhibition by 3 artists, Michael West Gallery Quay Arts, IOW, 'Tennyson's Women'.

June 1992

Bembridge Arts Week, IOW