Tolly’s effective photography has led to large-scale commissions which she undertakes in her newly –renovated studio near Cambridge.


Tolly has a degree in textiles which is evident in her ability to achieve balance and in her search for texture and detail within her natural subjects. Her enthusiasm for the natural world stems from her family background of nature-orientated passions whilst her wider appreciation cores from extensive foreign travel, most recently to Madagascar, and taking part in wildlife research projects abroad. Tolly is constantly mesmerized by the sometimes overlooked details of nature which are a continual source of inspiration for her art. In 2009 the elements of Tolly’s work which focus on extinct and endangered species will form part of an exhibition within the Zoology Museum, Cambridge to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Darwin’s Origin of Species.


Having worked under some of the most influential and eminent glass artists in Sweden and the U.S., this has fuelled Tolly's delight in the material itself. By using a combination of techniques she bases her work around the qualities in glass she appreciates the most – its vulnerability but also its solidity.


“Using methods such as Pate-de–verre I aim to extract and express the beauty of glass in its very fragile state, forming a ‘crust’ or an exoskeleton of what could be there - an artwork that has shed its skin and is left bare, exposed, raw and beautiful”


Within her degree Tolly won awards for innovation and originality. Now, her need to break down the boundaries between disciplines is even more evident – glass and weave, sculpture and photography, fine art and design. By removing these constraints Tolly leads herself into unexplored territory and breaking new ground..

 

 
 
Qualifications
 
1997-99            BA Honours Textiles: Winchester School of Art
1996                 Diploma in Foundation Studies: Winchester School of Art
                        A-levels: Hills Rd Sixth Form College, Cambridge
 
Awards
 
1995                Award for Extra-curricular Excellence, Hills Road Sixth Form College,
               Cambridge
1998                1st place:Amoco Student Design Competition, (Weave) USA
                        Honourable Mention     ~              ~                 ~                 ~            
                        Honourable Mention     ~              ~                 ~                 ~       
1999                Georgina von Etzdorf Award for Innovation in Textiles

2008                South Cambs District Council Built Heritage Award scheme: 1st Place Contemporary Design sympathetic to the Historic Environment for ‘The Ark’

2008                CGS Bursary for masterclasses at The Liquid Glass Centre
 
 
Artistic Experience
 
1997               3 weeks Personal Assistant Bertil Vallien, Kostaboda, Sweden

1998               Semester at Rhode Island School of Design, US, studying ‘liquid to Solid’ casting with Daniel Clayman

                      Casting with Rick Mills,  Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, U.S.
1999              Degree Show Co-ordinator, Winchester, U.K.          
                      Glass Beadmaking course, Pilkington Glass, Stourbridge ,U.K.
                      Pate-de-verre course, Corning Museum of Glass,, USA
2000              Photographic tuition, Cambridge Darkroom
2001-03         Interior Design work and sales with Natalie Clegg Design Ltd, Cambs.
                      Botanical illustration, Cambridge University short course.
                      Nikon Professional Digital SLR course, London
2003-2004    Design of own Website & set up of own business -‘Tolly’s Ark’

2004             Glass Techniques course with Helen Maurer, Central St.Martins College of Art, London.

                     Assistant to Layne Rowe, glassblower,
2006            ‘Woven structures’ course with Mary Butcher, Cambridg
                     Cast Glass tuition with Lucy Swift, London.
2007             Design, photography, sales and distribution of ‘Live Art’ cards
                     Co-founded CAMBA with other artistic professionals within the Cambridge Area          
                     Design & implementation of CAMBA Website

2008             Glass Mouldmaking Masterclass with Fiaz Elson, Liquid Glass Centre, Wingfield.

2008             Glass Coldworking techniques with Fiaz Elson, Liquid Glass Centre, Wingfield.
2008            ‘Printing with Light’ course, London Glassblowing, Shelley James & Louis Thompson
 
 
Selected Exhibitions
 
1998                  Neocon ’98 Chicago, USA
1999                 ‘Action Japan’, Nottingham Playhouse
                         Winchester School of Art
                         New Designers, London
2002-04            Darrel Nantais Gallery, Linton, Cambs. 
2003-05            Bridges of St.Ives, Cambs.
2004                 ‘Through the Lens of the Artist, 7 Contemporary Photographers’,
                 Limberhurst Arts, Cambs.
2004-05           ‘Affordable Art’, S.C.D.C., Cambourne, Cambs.
                         Aisini Gallery, St.Ives, Cambs.
                         Venue, Arts Picture House, Cambridge
                         Arthouse Gallery, Brighton,
                         Art Asset Online Gallery,
2006                 Bruno’s Brasserie, Cambridge
2007                ‘Ray of Light’ joint exhibition with Layne Rowe, The Ark, Cambs.
                        ‘E-merge’ Solo Exhibition,The Upper Gallery, Cambridge.
2008                Affordable Art Fair, The Café Jello Gallery @ Battersea Park, London          
                        Photographic Exhibition, Williams Art, Cambridge
                        Café Jello Glass Gallery, Cambridge.
                        Angela Mellor Gallery, Ely
                        Cambridgeshire Galleries, Whittlesford
2009                (Cambridge Museum of Zoology)
 
 
 
Selected Commissions
 
1997                      Glass Screen design, Nason Davis Ltd, Cambridge
2002                      Large Silk and Glass wall-hangings ‘Studio 1’ Beauty Salon
2003                      Glass Screen design, Nason Davis Japan Ltd, Tokyo
2003-04                 Collection of photographs & drawings, Bridges of St. Ives
                              Various private commissions in Oils inc. ‘Balloon Flight over Africa’, Jo’burg, S.A.
                              Photographic commission for tree-themed meeting rooms, Art Contact
                              Photography for Itchy Guide to Cambridge
2004-05                 Design and production of bespoke Wedding Stationery
                              Photographs & Brochure design, Travis Perkins Ltd.                  
2004,06                 Various private commissions in Pen & Ink & Watercolour
2005-06                 Greeting Card commissions in Pen & ink: Woodmansterne Publications
                Hotchpotch Publications
                               Various photographic commissions inc. Rider Sale Associates, Eversham
                               Venue restaurant, Cambridge
2006                       Allen & Overy Ltd, Bishops Square, London: Large Scale photographs, flora and landscapes of Italy, Spain, Holland and U.K
.

2005-08                  Various private photographic and glass-based commissions

2008                       Orchard St Investment Management, Cork St, London: Large scale photographs on Acrylic
2008                       Glass mascot for Antique Morgan