My inspiration comes from a number of sources, and I am generally motivated by shape, colour and texture. Most recently I have been using music as a source of imagery resulting in some abstract colourful pieces, before this faces appeared in my work regularly.
Traditional techniques for recording and mark making have developed into designing with computers and machine embroidery.
Printing, Painting and construction techniques have been put to good use in my textile work, all influenced by music and sometimes using still life and the human form as the subject matter.
Sketchbooks play a vital part in the progress of all the pieces, which vary in scale and colour, content and style.
I like to control my palette and to this end enjoy dyeing fabrics to try to create my own colour schemes; I also enjoy printing and the layering effect that can be achieved by this technique. The last 4 years have been spent experimenting with the embellisher felting machine, in particular the layering and blending of colours and textures, whilst maintaining the “handle” of fabric. This has been further enhanced with Kantha hand stitchery.
I belong to 2 national exhibiting groups, Losing the Thread and Urchfont Embroiderers
My day to day work and influences are on my blog: