Born in 1991, April spent her early childhood between Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and Cyprus. In 2009, she enrolled at Edinburgh College of Art, earning a BA in Interior Architecture, followed by a year-long exchange program at Istanbul Teknik University in 2012. Captivated by Istanbul, April decided to make the city her home for over a decade. She initially worked in architecture while steadily developing her sculpture practice. In 2018, she discovered a small neon workshop on a backstreet in Istanbul, sparking a passion for the material, which she began incorporating into her sculptures. In 2023, April returned to Yorkshire, where she completed various large-scale public projects, including a permanent installations at The Maltings (Berwick-Upon-Tweed), the Leeds Corn Exchange, and was awarded the ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ grant from Arts Council England.

Statement

“Living and working in Istanbul throughout my 20s profoundly shaped my style and approach as an artist and human. I adore architecture, history, people and the stories they tell. Every Sunday morning I’d go to the local flea market and pick up random old Kodachrome films – later selecting a few to realize into contemporary 3D form. Working hand-in-hand with local craftsmen skilled in neon glass making, wood, and metal, I created art that breathed life into the past, blending our collective skills. The years of collaboration were as rewarding for them as they were for me, adding depth to each piece we crafted.

Coming from an architecture background, I have always been interested in manipulating light through structure and color. I am deeply passionate about retelling memories and historical stories through this visual language, drawing much inspiration from local landscapes and individuals. Discovering neon glass and other sculptural practices inspired me to combine these elements into my work, bridging tradition with modern form.

I would describe my practice as a dynamic dance between tradition and innovation, where materials become conduits for storytelling, and the boundaries of sculpture are continually challenged and expanded. My interest for technology and the digital world is something I’m exploring within the contexts of my sculpture practice, with each project it’s now customary to create a digital animation alongside the sculpture, further bringing it to life. Through this process I’m forever trying to push the boundaries within contemporary installation, seeking new opportunities and narratives to present in new contexts.”

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