KEEPING THE THREAD - WORKING WITH TEXTILES

TEXTILE ARTIST BASED IN PERTHSHIRE, SCOTLAND
Welcome to my portfolio website!
I am principally a textile artist and my main inspiration in all my work is the myriads of textures and patterns found in nature.
I much prefer the feel and look of natural fibres over man made, and try to use natural resources as much as possible.
With an eye on sustainable and slow fashion, I like to re-use, alter and change natural fibres and fabrics to make new items wherever possible.
This is not a new approach. Fabric and fibre are woven through the story of my life, My father was a shepherd. My parents both knitted and my mother made most of our clothing at home. Unloved jumpers and unworn clothing were unravelled, deconstructed and made into something new. That was standard practice at the time. Nothing was wasted.
My professional career took me into Community Education and eventually Community Arts and for that I gained both Community Education and Contemporary Art qualifications. I value all of this experience of working with people.
Over the years I have become a crochet specialist, and I tutor both standard and specialist techniques, such as broomstick, hairpin and Tunisian. As one venture leads to another, I learned to process, dye and spin yarn prompted initially by a desire to make my own yarn for wall hangings.
The interest in dyeing has led me into the field of ecoprinting, and specifically to using a process, the "dirty pot" method, which does not require the use of additional powdered mordants.
Feel free to browse through my site and get in touch if you are interested in commissioning work that is tailored to your vision and needs.
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I currently have a studio within Glamis Gallery where my work can be seen, and where I can be met by appointment.
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
Over the years my artworks have been exhibited in several galleries and art fairs, including the Meffan and various Open Studios events.
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This year I will be taking part in:-
Pittenweem Arts Festival 1-10 August
Perthshire Open Studios 6 -14 September
GETTING INSPIRED
I have always been fascinated by patterns and textures which often coexist. For example, a worn slate flagstone on a floor has both. So has a leaf, a piece of bark, a piece of crochet. Then there is spotting unusual, like the reflected pattern of gravel in the chrome of a Harley Davidson.
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With this inspiration much of my work focuses on highlighting one or the other and sometimes both.
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I do not yet know what I am going to do with this wonderful selection of digital images, it's still a work in progress.





