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Washington Arts Centre

Kim McDermottroe, Artist

Since graduating in 2002 I have been working freelance as a creative director, costume and puppet designer/maker and illustrator under the business name Greener Lavelle.

I have worked across cultural sectors, predominantly in the North East of England but throughout the country too.

I have worked on carnival, outdoor events, in theatre, for dance shows, libraries, short films and museums.

In 2021 I received a Developing Your Creative Practice grant from Arts Council England to bring some of my sketchbook characters, (some of which are inspired by my experiences of pareidolia) off the page with 3D stop motion puppets and experiment with animation techniques.

Being autistic means, I sometimes don’t know how to fit in the world so I invent characters and spend time in theirs. My sketchbook is my passion so it was an amazing opportunity to showcase it alongside the developed characters in my first solo exhibition at Arts Centre Washington. Although I am from Billingham, my partner and I are always up at the Washington Wetland Centre which is our go to place for when we want to be outdoors. So having the exhibition in Washington felt really special.