Jyl Friggens

While most of my time is enabling others to create, as an artist, I am hugely influenced by working and being outside: I’m passionate about the quirks of human nature – by the way we collect, arrange, select, explore, create stories, make things and rituals to understand the world we live in.

My pockets are filled deep with stones, broken pottery and sticks from the local woods. I scavenge and look for the lost pieces to be found. To then rediscover and create a sense of awe, magic and enchantment by rearranging and re- telling with these materials.

I am interested in engaging children in the challenges and wonders of the natural world, first hand. I like to work on projects that support children’s ideas and interests. Projects that not only provided an opportunity to develop and foster children’s creative learning, but are designed to build their confidence and developed their awareness of risk-taking and understanding of the natural environment 

My workshops encourage cooperation and personal expression through investigation, research, design and construction.

I am a Level 3 trained Forest School Leader and am inspired by the philosophy and reflective practice of the preschool centres of Reggio Emilia, Italy and the Forest Schools in Denmark and Sweden.

Whether working in collaboration or by myself, I seek to work in a way that is about engaging with this sense of exploration and playfulness.

As well as working on process-based projects, I also work to commission. I have made and am making numerous mosaic panels, painted murals and textile banners with schools and community settings and private clients.