Scrawny

In 2020 I self published an illustrated poetry book entitled The Freakshow. The poems contained within were all written about the freaks from a Victorian freakshow that was in demise. My friend, Enya Koster, illustrated the book for me, bringing to life the characters from the poems I wrote. In addition, I had her incorporate a skinny, bedraggled, flea-riddled cat in each of the pics. He was never mentioned in the book, but to me, he developed into a character and I've done quite a bit of work on him since; textiles, illustrations, poems, cards...

Scrawny, as I named him, is the freakshow's mouser who cannot kill mice. He's too loving and caring but he also needs the job. His story is contained within a poem which I've included here.

I'm now allergic to cats, but Scrawny sits on my bench and we have chats whilst I work. He's the nearest I can get to a studio puss and he really is the most perfect furry friend, for he is everything I want, nothing more and nothing less.

The work contained here will show the evolution of Scrawny in ceramics. This is his journey through my imagination and the solutions I have trialled through my MA. Let's see where he ends up.