Aimee is a self-taught mosaicist who became obsessed with making mosaics in 1998. In 1999 she approached her local council to offer to mosaic a roundabout for free in Peacehaven, where she lives (images can be seen on her website at www.mosaicmadromans.com), and as a result of the publicity, a steward from the train took the newspaper article to the project manager. Before she knew it, she had been offered the job of restoring all the mosaics by the late Marjorie Knowles on The British Pullman Venice-Simplon Orient Express (the company has since changed hands and is now known as Belmond). Aimee still has the contract to restore and maintain the twelve mosaic floors each year with her colleague, Alex Bennison. Since this amazing opportunity she has received various commissions from the private and public sector, including designing and making eight mosaics for the sister train to the British-Pullman, The Belmond Northern Belle, based in Crewe. Three floors have been completed so far. Aimee attends Art in Action every summer at Waterperry in Oxford, teaching 3-5-year-olds to mosaic. She also teaches in schools around the country, arriving dressed as Minerva, the Roman goddess of Wisdom, Art and War, to inspire creativity in children – thus they remember Roman history through a real mosaic they have made and will keep for their lifetime. Aimee also runs her own web-based company, from which she produces and sells mosaic kits for children to English Heritage. If her new book has enticed you to try your hand at mosaics, you can also attend her one-day workshops, themed on the projects in the book, throughout this year. Contact her via www.mosaicmadromans.com
