Kamina Walton

For many years I have used photography and installation within my own practice to focus on issues of physical and mental health, making visible that which is often hidden from view. The collaboration with others has been crucial to this work, and in enabling its creation people have shared their intimate stories. I meticulously document everything I do, both in my own practice and commissioned work. This is an invaluable part of my process.
I have extensive experience of working as both artist and facilitator in education, and with marginalised groups in both educational settings and the community. I have developed long term residencies; initiated, coordinated and supported projects; mentored and facilitated both young people and adults; had responsibility for managing budgets and employing staff. More recently I have been invited to work as creative evaluator by a broad range of organisations.
As part of my own professional development I received mentoring from Professor Helen Storey between 2007 - 09, with a focus on developing a more considered, professional and sustainable approach to my own practice and my work with others. I have also received valuable support in the past through the Arts & Business South West Skills Bank initiative and benefited from the Artsmatrix DNA programme.
Examples of current work
2011 -	Freelance work for Arnolfini helping to build their schools engagement programme and a new approach towards events programmed by young people for young people.
2011 -	Creative evaluator for Misfits Theatre Company. A two year commission evaluating their innovative Masterclass programme.
2011	Photographic documentor for Arnolfini's international project, Museo Aero Solar. Documenting the artists, the education programme and the launch of a giant balloon made from recycled plastic bags. Images shown in Arnolfini's Reading Room.
2009 -	Artist in Residence, Ashton Gate Primary School, Bristol. On-going project using documentation to give children a voice and influence change across the school.
2008 -	NGD (New Generation Documentors). Co-running a collective of adults and young people with colleague Sandra Barefoot and NGD members. Using documentation to explore young people’s perspective on education and creative activity and their role as agents of change. Broad range of commissions from organisations such as Sustrans, Arnolfini and Theatre Royal, Bath.
Examples of recent work
2011	Bounce, Skate, Play. Lead artist and photographer for film commissioned by Playing Out (www.playingout.net) focusing on young people’s concept of play. (http://vimeo.com/30486478)
2011	Residency at Bridge Learning Campus, Bristol, as photographer and facilitator. Working with Yr. 4, 5 and 6 students around self-esteem and independence with a focus on PSHE.
2011	Fernhill Farm: Photographer/evaluator for Imayla (www.imayla.com). Project taking young refugees and asylum seekers into the countryside. (http://vimeo.com/channels/imaylamedia#30915106)
2010/11	Media Hothouse Coordinator, Knowle West Media Centre. Managing a programme of work for 16 – 25 year olds supporting them to gain access to and experience with the creative and media industries.
2010	Photographer and lecturer, Hardenhuish Secondary School, Chippenham. Inspiring GCSE students to enroll for the school’s new A Level Photography course.
2009	ArtsMatrix Creative Agent Scheme. Mentoring artist James Lake as part of a programme supporting BME artists and artists with disabilities.
2008/9	Lead artist/advisor for START, Arnolfini. A programme of work looking at ways in which documentation can enrich educational visits to Arnolfini’s exhibitions and live events.
2008	Photographic evaluator for Wonderland, a collaboration between artist Professor Helen Storey and scientist Professor Tony Ryan to create real solutions for a more sustainable world. London, Sheffield and Belfast.
2007/8	StyaB creative mentoring programme. Set up and running of a pilot supporting a small group of young people across Bristol in their creative practice.
2006	Bristol Creative Lab: using my creative practice as a starting point to encourage the creative process for children and young people whose medical needs prevent them from attending mainstream school. Commissioned and supported by Creative Partnerships Bristol.
Examples of exhibitions & installations
2010/11	Heavy Words stories from the cervix: a visual exploration of cervical cancer in collaboration with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. Centrespace, Bristol 2010. Brewhouse, Taunton 2011.
2011	Museo Aero Solar. Photographic documentation of a week long event involving the creation of a giant air balloon made ffrom recycled plastic bags. Arnolfini Reading Room, Bristol.
2011	Body Culture. Large scale photographic piece in a group show group show based on academic research of body surveillance in schools. Bath Royal Scientific and Literary Institute, Bath.
2008	What have you left unfinished? Spike Island Open Studios weekend, Bristol
2006	Bristol Creative Lab: a selection of my work exhibited within Bristol’s Hospital Education Service. Commissioned and supported by Creative Partnerships.
2005	Hidden Images: The Secret World of Genetic Disorders. Touring exhibition created through a creative collaboration with poet Alyson Hallett. Taunton Central Library, Dorset County Hospital.
2004	A to Z of Motherhood: personal image/text project sited around streets in Southville, Bristol as part of the Southville Arts & Performance Trail.
1998	Immaculate Conception: Konicus Gallery, Bristol. Installation exploring 40 weeks of pregnancy.
1997/8	KEEP OUT OF REACH: Prema Arts Centre, Dursley. Picton Street, Bristol. Tannery, London. Installation exploring individuals' experience of mental anguish.
Examples of past work
2003/2007	CP Advisor for Bristol Creative Partnerships. Particular emphasis on exploring the potential for documentation across the curriculum, and working outside mainstream education structures.
1999/2003	Babel Project Co-ordinator: Bath Festivals Trust: visual arts & literature project for 13 - 25 year olds working in schools and community. Commissioning artists & programming events at the Literature Festival.
2002/3	Consultancy work for Art for Life: Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust. Short term contract researching the feasibility of using the Arts to demystify genetic disorders.
2002/3	Artist's commission for 5x5x5=Creativity in the Early Years. Collaboration with artist Luci Gorell Barnes exploring creativity in an Early Years setting in Bath & North East Somerset.
1998/9	Out & About Multimedia Workshops: Out & About Mental Health Project, Bristol. Weekly workshops offering young people the opportunity to explore digital imaging with the aim of skill and confidence building, and re-integration into the community.
1997/8	Photography workshops with rethink (formally NSF) users, including setting up an independent group of photographers who exhibited and sold their work.
International education work
1997/8	Creative Approaches to Language Learning: South Gloucestershire Council. Long-term project developing a wider and more sensitive definition of 'literacy' through the use of innovative and creative approaches with young people in South Gloucestershire, Romania & Italy.
Examples of published work
1995	Picture My World: Photography in Primary Education: Trentham Publishing. Arts Council commission to research, write and collate a book for teachers.
1995	Creating Positive Images: working with primary school girls. Illustrated essay featured in 'What Can A Woman Do With A Camera: photography for women' edited by Jo Spence and Joan Solomon.
1995	Framing the Child - Children Representing Themselves: Trentham Publishing. Primary teachers' study pack produced with Watershed Media Centre, Bristol.