Catherine has held a long standing research interest in Attachment, which is a psychological, evolutionary, and ethological theory concerning the development of emotional relationships in children and adults. Formulated by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby, it takes as its focus the young child’s need to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for social and emotional development to occur normally. Catherine’s experience as a psychologist is central to her practice as an artist. Core themes in her wide ranging practice have emerged from her work with charities and local authorities to train practitioners in evidence base measures of attachment. Key projects are described below: -

This mixed media piece used a projector to pose a number of repeated questions from the self-reliance attitudinal scale of the Attachment Style Interview (© Bifulco et al 2004) Used in research and clinical settings the questions would be scored objectively and discussed with the respondent; here they invite a subjective response. Can you make decisions easily without other people’s help? Is it important to you to be independent? Would you describe yourself as a bit of a loner?

Materials: Overhead Projector, Acetate sheet, Interview questions from the Attachment Style Interview. www.attachmentstyleinterview.com 

Still from: State of Independence, Vision in Art Group Exhibition, London, 2004.

Collage also forms a key component of Catherine’s practice. Her collages often combine monoprints with glues and watercolors, an approach that complements and informs her photographic series. Attachment 2008 was series of monoprints canvas blocks which explored the physical and psychological distance in relationships, which in attachment theory is defined as the seeking of proximity to an attachment figure in stressful situations. Abstract figures were first created as monoprints on tissue paper, and the tissue-print was then worked into and collaged onto mounted on small canvas blocks.

Materials: Mono-print on tissue paper, pva, watercolour; all materials used archival.

These canvases and other mono-prints are for sale on with www.newbloodart.com.