I am an artist working mainly with textiles and mixed media. My work is inspired by simple things, fragments of blue and white pottery, finds from beachcombing, architecture, interiors, old dresses etc etc....
Recycling plays a major role in the philosophy towards my art partly because I was brought up not to throw things out if they had a use, as partly as a reaction against todays consumerism.
However this does not really explain my love for old fabrics and garments. I do not like throwing my own treasured garments away, especially if they are associated with pleasant memories. I derive great satisfaction from creating a piece of artwork from them as they are able to live on in a different form. I also get pleasure from ‘rescuing’ unwanted fabrics and buttons from my friends who are about to throw them out and looking for ‘treasures’ such as old evening dresses and scarves in charity shops and jumble sales. I have recently discovered 'altered art' which has opened up a whole new area for me in the form of altered book and paper ephemera.
My recent work has involved looking at dress and textiles and experimenting with the interpretation of stitch using a mix of different media such as metal, paper,threads, fabrics and found objects to create a rich, multilayered surface which challenges the viewer.
My current work is inspired by the cultural meaning of dress in our society. Dress plays a important role in our main Rites of Passage such as weddings, christenings and coming of age.
I am also producing a body of work based on the personal memories evoked by images of dresses in old family photographs.
Biography
City and Guilds Creative Embroidery Part 1 and 2
City and Guilds Interior Decorative Techniques Part 1 and 2
BTEC Diploma in Art and Design
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Commissions /Awards/Exhibitions
'Reflective Stories' The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art. Nov/ Dec 2008
'Pure Talent' exhibition. The Green Room. Manchester July 2008.
1st Sale Waterside Open Art Exhibition Feb to April 2008
My work has been included in Val Holmes’s book – Creative Recycling in Embroidery 2007.
I am a member of Textile 21, an exhibiting textile group, and my work has been exhibited in various galleries where my work has been purchased by art collectors from home and abroad.
Commission by Warrington Art Gallery to produce a textile piece which is on permamant display.
I also run workshops and give talks to groups.
Recycling plays a major role in the philosophy towards my art partly because I was brought up not to throw things out if they had a use, as partly as a reaction against todays consumerism.
However this does not really explain my love for old fabrics and garments. I do not like throwing my own treasured garments away, especially if they are associated with pleasant memories. I derive great satisfaction from creating a piece of artwork from them as they are able to live on in a different form. I also get pleasure from ‘rescuing’ unwanted fabrics and buttons from my friends who are about to throw them out and looking for ‘treasures’ such as old evening dresses and scarves in charity shops and jumble sales. I have recently discovered 'altered art' which has opened up a whole new area for me in the form of altered book and paper ephemera.
My recent work has involved looking at dress and textiles and experimenting with the interpretation of stitch using a mix of different media such as metal, paper,threads, fabrics and found objects to create a rich, multilayered surface which challenges the viewer.
My current work is inspired by the cultural meaning of dress in our society. Dress plays a important role in our main Rites of Passage such as weddings, christenings and coming of age.
I am also producing a body of work based on the personal memories evoked by images of dresses in old family photographs.
Biography
City and Guilds Creative Embroidery Part 1 and 2
City and Guilds Interior Decorative Techniques Part 1 and 2
BTEC Diploma in Art and Design
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Commissions /Awards/Exhibitions
'Reflective Stories' The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art. Nov/ Dec 2008
'Pure Talent' exhibition. The Green Room. Manchester July 2008.
1st Sale Waterside Open Art Exhibition Feb to April 2008
My work has been included in Val Holmes’s book – Creative Recycling in Embroidery 2007.
I am a member of Textile 21, an exhibiting textile group, and my work has been exhibited in various galleries where my work has been purchased by art collectors from home and abroad.
Commission by Warrington Art Gallery to produce a textile piece which is on permamant display.
I also run workshops and give talks to groups.
About the Artist
Artist Statement and Biography