Cartledge Tracey

I am a professional artist and have worked in Public Art since graduating from my Fine Art degree course at Wolverhampton Polytechnic with first class honours. My first job was with Manchester based environmental art practice, Partnership Art Limited (now Eaton Waygood Associates). I worked there for two years immediately after graduating and gained invaluable experience assisting many well-established artists on a variety of public art commissions. I was recruited for the specific task of researching and producing an extensive publication that assessed the value of Public Art internationally. It was commissioned by Central Manchester Development Corporation. In 1991, I set up my business as a self-employed artist and since then I have built a portfolio of interesting and varied public art projects. I make work that is site-specific in response to the project brief, often exploring the potential for new or unfamiliar materials and processes. This might involve working with skilled experts from a range of disciplines, eg. blacksmith Martin Lister in Stockport and Taylor Electronics (neon tube lighting manufacturers) in Manchester, amongst others. I have achieved a reputation for producing durable, high quality pavement mosaics and innovative and elegant architectural metalwork for public sites, although my work is not limited to these artforms. Past clients include NORWEB plc; The Groundwork Trust – St. Helens, Wrexham, Wirral, Manchester, Merseyside; Friends of Anderton and Marbury Country Park, Cheshire; Community Forests NorthWest; Norton Priory Museum Trust; Bury Met Arts Centre; The Whitworth Gallery, Manchester; libraries, museums and more schools than I can count; arts centres and other independent organisations plus a great many local authorities. Facilitating workshops for all ages and abilities is one of my key skills. Between commissions and other projects, I make personal work in the studio and often attend training courses to improve my range of skills. In 2004, for example, I was awarded a place on the acclaimed David Reid bronze-casting course at the Royal Academy in London and later worked with Castle Fine Art Foundry in Oswestry to produce a body of cast bronze work for exhibition. I have completed mosaic technique courses with Roman Mosaic Workshop, Helen Miles (Pelion, Greece), Mozaism (Kings College, London), Dugald Macinnes (Edinburgh) and others. In recent years I have increasingly specialised in mosaic restoration, working for private clients and heritage construction companies as well as making work for public sites. I also work for Manchester Museum, delivering workshops in art and humanities as part of the secondary and post 16 curriculum and run a weekly mosaic class for adults. I am a professional member and North West Regional Co-ordinator for BAMM – British Association of Modern Mosaic and currently in the role of vice-chair as part of BAMM's executive committee.