Professional profile

I am an artist currently based in east London. I use the generic term 'artist' because i am one of those artists who doesn't exactly fit into a box. I am a painter, a sculptor, and a dress designer. Perhaps this is one of the reasons i am doing this course, to help me to define myself as a practitioner. I did my GCSE's and A-levels at Repton School, a boarding school in Derbyshire (where i grew up) which had its pros and cons but one of the major pros was the art department. Not only did it have amazing facilities but it also had one of the best art teachers I have ever encountered.  It was thanks to his constant encouragement that was able to experiment with many different artistic in particular arc and mig welding which I still use to create large metal sculptures. (see image above, Reclining Woman By Stephie Montgomery 2008)

  After leaving Repton I went on to study at Central St Martin’s on an art, design and environment course. Here i continued to experiment with a variety of different processes including a photographic process called liquid light and learnt a huge amount about sustainable and recyclable art. We worked with companies such as Greenworks to redesign new product from existing discarded office furniture, and how as an artist you can make people more aware of their current surrounding and their carbon foot print. (See image above From ‘Senses’ June 2006 by Stephie Montgomery). From there i went on to study costume design at London College of Fashion (LCF). Here I learnt pattern cutting and manipulation and was given the opportunity to improve my sewing and designing skills. I was very sad to have to leave LCF but unfortunately sometimes life gets in the way, but I am really excited to get the opportunity to finish my degree at Middlesex.  After  LCF my art took a bit of a back seat, at this time in my life it was more important that I got a decent pay check then do what I love., and as I am sure we all know this line of work doesn’t always pay well.  I continued to do commissioned paintings and build up my portfolio but it wasn’t until I started to work for a small bespoke design company called ‘Arty Lore’ that I got back into doing what I loved. I continued to work, mainly as a chef, but this gave me the creative outlet I craved. I worked as designer and seamstress under the company owner who also designed and hand painted the garments. She was the person who got me into bridal wear and from here I started up my own company called ‘Not Quite Lauren’.  This coincided nicely with my own wedding where I designed and made my dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses and the mother of the bride’s dress. (See image above, designed and made by Stephie Montgomery). I used these dresses to display in my initial bridal shows. (See image below, Croydon clock tower Bridal show September 2009) During this time i created a website insert web to promote my other work.