'Looking Harder, Thinking Differently' is a recent research project with The Dermatology Centre at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust based on a pilot programme to find out if visual observation skills in trainee dermatologists can be improved through analysing works of arts.  

The University of Nottingham's 'Clay Transformations' project investigated the therapeutic uses of clay and was part of an important project developing clinical research teams (in this case psychologists) with artists.

Creative research collaboration within the field of arts and health, teacher training and museum evaluation has included workshops, community events and recording/training with oral history groups. Publications include exhibition catalogues and learning materials for Arts Council England, Bolton Art Gallery and Museum, Bury Art Museum, Manchester Art Gallery and Nottingham Contemporary.

Learning initiatives with children and teachers over twenty years has shown the benefits of working with museum and gallery collections through engaging with contemporary artists. Many of these have built on work that uses the museum as an extended classroom. The ongoing project 'The Museum of Me' uses the practices and traditions of  museums to encourage children and teachers to research their particular communities and personal histories, using unusual media and contemporary art processes.
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I continue to teach graduate and postgraduate students of Fine Art, Museums Studies and History of Art and Design. Previous visiting lectures include at the University of Bolton, Manchester Metropolitan University, Nottingham Trent University, Staffordshire University and Wolverhampton University.

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