Tom Rowan

In the 1970s I travelled throughout Europe and its major cities earning a living as an artist and a musician. From the 1980s onwards I lived in various parts of London and became involved in both artistic and musical projects. In 1984 I spent a year as an illustrator at the North London Polytechnic for Urban Spaces who were involved in publicising the green areas of inner London.

Since moving back to the northeast I have been involved in several artistic projects in the local community. The Source to the Sea was a musical and artistic journey down the river Wear. This project was funded by Weardale, Chester-le-Street and Durham City Arts. The project involved both local artists and musicians. The work produced was exhibited at Crook Civic centre, Bishop Auckland Town Hall and the DLI Museum in Durham; a cassette also called The Source to the Sea was recorded and produced by the musicians.

I have also been involved in organising a National Lottery funded project entitled The Banks of the Deerness which was again a community based project. This involved local artists and musicians as well as local school children from St Mary's Junior School Esh Winning. The completed work was exhibited at the school and a large collage done by the children and myself was the central piece of the exhibition. A compact disc by local musicians was written recorded and produced based on the theme of the Deerness Valley. In August 2001 I taught the guitar at HMP high security prison at Frankland Durham during their summer school of that year.

In June 2003 I completed my BA Honours Degree at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, and I am currently seeking employment in the creative field.