I make sculptures using natural and recycled materials woven together with basketry techniques learnt from countries all over the world ~ integrating diverse materials and techniques.
I tell stories and facilitate other people to tell and record their stories and produce them as a short videos ~ especially for advocacy within the health service.
I facilitate workshops, mentor other artists, manage arts in health projects and have a lot of fun doing it all!
My inspiration comes from my belief in God as creator and a constant awareness of His presence. I am also inspired by the people I meet and I love the diversity there is in the world.
Prue Thimbleby SRN, SCM, BA, MA
Key Skills
Sculptural Baskets
Storytelling & Digital Storytelling
Arts in Health Project Management
Group Facilitation & Mentoring
Selected Education
2006 MA (distinction) Arts in the Community, University of South Wales
2004 City & Guilds Diploma in constructed textiles/basketry
1997 BA (1st class honours) Art Practice and the Community, Middlesex University
Qualified SCM (1979) SRN (1977)
Selected Employment since 2000
2021- Present Council Member Arts Council Wales
1994 – Present Freelance Artist
2012 – 2025 Story Lead Swansea Bay Health Board
2012 – 2021 Arts Lead Swansea Bay Health Board
2006 – 2015 Swansea Digital Storytelling partnership
2005 – 2008 Senior Community Development Officer, Clase & Caemawr, Swansea
2001 – 2005 Outreach co-ordinator Courtyard Arts Centre, Hertford
1998 – 2001 Lecturing, Fine Art Department, Middlesex University
Selected Exhibitions since 2000
2025 Abundance, an installation West Wall Gallery, Cardiff and Parklands Church Swansea
2017 Voices from the edge: Murmurations Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
2016 Weave, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
2014 Ariel Installation, Neville Hall Hospital, Abergavenny
2012 Guest maker, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
2010 Keepsakes, Oriel 1 St Fagans, Cardiff
2005 Hertfordshire Open, Margaret Harvey Gallery, St Albans
2004 Creative Basketry, City Lit, Bolt Court, London
2003 Bundles and Ropes, Two large installations with Tim Johnson at UH Galleries, Hatfield
2002 Strands, Xchange Gallery, Oxford
2000 Dynamic Times, Solo Exhibition, The Courtyard Gallery, Hertford
Curating
2022-Present Curator of West Wall Gallery at Urban Crofters, Cardiff
2015 Reconstructing Ourselves Morriston Hospital plus Symposium
2013 Coming of Age Arts Trail OPAN, Swansea University
2003 Bundles & Ropes by Tim Johnson at UH Galleries
2002 New Basketry The Courtyard Arts Centre
1998 The Art of Recycling The Courtyard Arts Centre including coverage by Blue Peter BBC
Teaching/Mentoring
2018 - Present Digital Storytelling Training (MA module for University of South Wales 2018-2022)
2025 Keynote speaker at Care Opinion Celebration in Belfast Northern Ireland
2015 – 2017 Mentoring visual artists in care homes for cARTrefu project, Age Cymru
2002 – 2005 Arts training for Hertfordshire Education Service for preschool teachers
1998 – 2001 Lecturing part time, Fine Art Department, Middlesex University
Selected Freelance Projects since 2000 — management and delivery
2024, 2025 and 2026 Hadau Festival
Exhibition and Conference exploring Faith and Arts
2018 Stories around the Act
Digital stories across Wales for Social Care Wales
2017, 2019 and 2021 International Stroytelling for Health Conference
Founder and co-convener of this global conference
2016 Story Weavers
A storytelling commission for Gwanwyn Festival 10th anniversary
2014 Richard Glynn Vivian’s travels and refugee stories
A digital story project with the Glynn Vivian Art gallery and refugees
2012 Cauldrons and Furnaces
Artistic Director for a cultural Olympiad project at Laugharne Castle
2011 Asylum Voices
A two year digital story project with the African community Centre and Asylum Seekers
2010 Keepsakes
Workshops and exhibition with Women’s Art Association and St Fagans museum
2009 Five panel mosaic at Hazel Court Housing complex for elderly
2007 Primary Democracy Project
A multi school artist in residency with Becky Adams making books
2006 Swansea Digital Storytelling
Funded by Communities@One making digital stories with residents in Swansea
2004 Tree of Life
An Arts Council funded residency for the launch of the Green Hearts Project
2003 Build Event 3
A large community play celebrating the history of a housing estate in Hertford
2002 Giant Puppets
A partnership project with Snap Theatre Co. developing carnival work in East Herts
2001 Meltdown
Lottery funded work with early years groups developing good practice in arts and play
2000 Portraits
A schools project for Herts Education Service combining large murals and group identity
Publications
Case Study in Storytelling by Michael Wilson pp108-112, Emerald publishing 2022 pp108-112
New Faces National Basketry Organization USA Quarterly Review, pp5–6, fall 2011
What’s your story? Guide to Narrative and Story-based Methods to Community Building, pp19–21, published by St Ethelburga’s, London, March 2011.
Changing Lives through Telling Stories Conference proceedings FACE 2006
Loss of someone special a teachers Art pack, published by cre8.ed 2004
Working with an artist in residence Practical Preschool, loose-leaf p15-16, Step Forward Publishing July 2003
Brickwall Hose Reminiscence Project Reminiscence p9-10, Help the Aged, August 1996
Key Skills
Sculptural Baskets
Storytelling & Digital Storytelling
Arts in Health Project Management
Group Facilitation & Mentoring
Selected Education
2006 MA (distinction) Arts in the Community, University of South Wales
2004 City & Guilds Diploma in constructed textiles/basketry
1997 BA (1st class honours) Art Practice and the Community, Middlesex University
Qualified SCM (1979) SRN (1977)
Selected Employment since 2000
2021- Present Council Member Arts Council Wales
1994 – Present Freelance Artist
2012 – 2025 Story Lead Swansea Bay Health Board
2012 – 2021 Arts Lead Swansea Bay Health Board
2006 – 2015 Swansea Digital Storytelling partnership
2005 – 2008 Senior Community Development Officer, Clase & Caemawr, Swansea
2001 – 2005 Outreach co-ordinator Courtyard Arts Centre, Hertford
1998 – 2001 Lecturing, Fine Art Department, Middlesex University
Selected Exhibitions since 2000
2025 Abundance, an installation West Wall Gallery, Cardiff and Parklands Church Swansea
2017 Voices from the edge: Murmurations Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
2016 Weave, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
2014 Ariel Installation, Neville Hall Hospital, Abergavenny
2012 Guest maker, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
2010 Keepsakes, Oriel 1 St Fagans, Cardiff
2005 Hertfordshire Open, Margaret Harvey Gallery, St Albans
2004 Creative Basketry, City Lit, Bolt Court, London
2003 Bundles and Ropes, Two large installations with Tim Johnson at UH Galleries, Hatfield
2002 Strands, Xchange Gallery, Oxford
2000 Dynamic Times, Solo Exhibition, The Courtyard Gallery, Hertford
Curating
2022-Present Curator of West Wall Gallery at Urban Crofters, Cardiff
2015 Reconstructing Ourselves Morriston Hospital plus Symposium
2013 Coming of Age Arts Trail OPAN, Swansea University
2003 Bundles & Ropes by Tim Johnson at UH Galleries
2002 New Basketry The Courtyard Arts Centre
1998 The Art of Recycling The Courtyard Arts Centre including coverage by Blue Peter BBC
Teaching/Mentoring
2018 - Present Digital Storytelling Training (MA module for University of South Wales 2018-2022)
2025 Keynote speaker at Care Opinion Celebration in Belfast Northern Ireland
2015 – 2017 Mentoring visual artists in care homes for cARTrefu project, Age Cymru
2002 – 2005 Arts training for Hertfordshire Education Service for preschool teachers
1998 – 2001 Lecturing part time, Fine Art Department, Middlesex University
Selected Freelance Projects since 2000 — management and delivery
2024, 2025 and 2026 Hadau Festival
Exhibition and Conference exploring Faith and Arts
2018 Stories around the Act
Digital stories across Wales for Social Care Wales
2017, 2019 and 2021 International Stroytelling for Health Conference
Founder and co-convener of this global conference
2016 Story Weavers
A storytelling commission for Gwanwyn Festival 10th anniversary
2014 Richard Glynn Vivian’s travels and refugee stories
A digital story project with the Glynn Vivian Art gallery and refugees
2012 Cauldrons and Furnaces
Artistic Director for a cultural Olympiad project at Laugharne Castle
2011 Asylum Voices
A two year digital story project with the African community Centre and Asylum Seekers
2010 Keepsakes
Workshops and exhibition with Women’s Art Association and St Fagans museum
2009 Five panel mosaic at Hazel Court Housing complex for elderly
2007 Primary Democracy Project
A multi school artist in residency with Becky Adams making books
2006 Swansea Digital Storytelling
Funded by Communities@One making digital stories with residents in Swansea
2004 Tree of Life
An Arts Council funded residency for the launch of the Green Hearts Project
2003 Build Event 3
A large community play celebrating the history of a housing estate in Hertford
2002 Giant Puppets
A partnership project with Snap Theatre Co. developing carnival work in East Herts
2001 Meltdown
Lottery funded work with early years groups developing good practice in arts and play
2000 Portraits
A schools project for Herts Education Service combining large murals and group identity
Publications
Case Study in Storytelling by Michael Wilson pp108-112, Emerald publishing 2022 pp108-112
New Faces National Basketry Organization USA Quarterly Review, pp5–6, fall 2011
What’s your story? Guide to Narrative and Story-based Methods to Community Building, pp19–21, published by St Ethelburga’s, London, March 2011.
Changing Lives through Telling Stories Conference proceedings FACE 2006
Loss of someone special a teachers Art pack, published by cre8.ed 2004
Working with an artist in residence Practical Preschool, loose-leaf p15-16, Step Forward Publishing July 2003
Brickwall Hose Reminiscence Project Reminiscence p9-10, Help the Aged, August 1996