 y work is a celebration of the magical qualities of stitch. I am inspired by the decorative surface,often looking to patterns within Nature for inspiration.
In an art world where minimalism often dominates it is refeshing to create such intense and heavily-worked textiles.
I use the sewing machine as a creative tool to produce sumptuous surfaces and textures. I work in basic free machine-embroidery but also use built-in machine patterns and a variety of feet such as the tailor-tack, cording and pintuck feet. I enjoy applying opulent surfaces to ordinary, unremarkable objects such as bags bed covers and cushions to make them remarkable, beautiful and precious.
I combine free-arm embroidery, quilting,openwork,hand-stitching and beading which are then developed in various ways. The types of thread,colour,tone and texture have a great impact on the final result. I always consider whether I want the colours to act sympathetically or antagonistically depending on the required imagery. I constantly experiment with techniques sych as cutting,distorting,pulling,braiding,fraying,layering,etc. to create new surfaces and ideas.
Often one surface develops and inspires another. Just by simply changing the thread tension a whole new surface can be created. These surfaces can be applied to costume,accessories,wall-hangings,fasion and soft-furnishing with endless possibilities.
I enjoy working with both sculptureal pieces such as elaborated bodices to more commercial pieces such as cushions and throws.
All the work is linked by the same intricate stitchwork and heavy surface pattern but some sre more suitable for displaying in the home or being worn as a normal fasion accessory. |
| Education & Training |
| . |
B.A.(Honours,First Class)Design Crafts,Cumbria Institute of the Arts,Carlisle
|
| . |
BTEC,Art&Design,Cumbria College of Art & Design,Carlisle |
| . |
B.Ed.,St. Andrew's College,Glasgow |
| Recent Exhibitions |
1998
1999 |
Utrecht, Netherlands |
| 2000 |
Eskdale Exhibition', Cumbria |
| 2001 |
Penrith Museum, Cumbria |
| 2001 |
Independent galleries throughout Cumbria and the north of England |
2002
2003 |
Work Featured in 2002/3 prospectus, Cumbria Institute of the Arts, Carlisle |
| 2002 |
"Forces of Nature", Forge Mill Needle Museum, Redditch |
| 2002 |
"Fashion & Embroidery" Harrogate, October 2003 |
| 2003 |
"Tracing the Threads", Cajobah Gallery, Birkenhead |
2003
|
Independent galleries throught Edinburgh |
2003
Oct |
"Fashion & Embroidery", Harrogate |
2003
Oct |
"The Knit & Stitch Show", Ingliston Edinburgh |
2003
Nov |
"Creative Stitches" Cardiff International Area |
2004
Feb |
'Creative Stitches', Brighton Centre |
2004
Mar |
'Islington Art and Design Fair',Candid Galleries,London
|
2004
Apr |
Smokehouse Gallery, Eyemouth |
2004
May-June |
'The Garden Party',Threadworks 2004, Wellington Country Museum,Ontario, Canada (plus Travelling Show,July 2004-2007) |
2004
Aug/Sep |
European Textile and Fibre Art Triennial, "Tradition and Innovation", Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts, Latvia |
|
