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My work
I combine contemporary and traditional techniques and materials in my textile work.
I use traditional indigo dyeing, felt and paper making, hand embroidery, bead embroidery and bead weaving techniques along side machine embroidery, chemical dyes and reclaimed plastics and metals.
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Inspiration
My designs are influenced by my interest in historical, archaeological and ethnographic artefacts, geological formations and fossils and the natural world.
I have a large collection of antique and ethnographic textiles, fossils and antique decorative art objects which inspire my design work
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My Studio
After 30 years in Hastings I have moved to the beautiful village of Patrington, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Here I have my workshop in the 19th century carpenters workshop in my back yard
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My backstory
Brought up in a family with 2 generations of teachers who had a strong professional and personal interest in needlework, art, history and geology, it is not surprising that I acquired similar passions from an early age.
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My Career
It began with a degree and career in archaeology, and archaeological illustration, and this in turn influenced my interest in the study and collection of historical and ethnographic textiles and beadwork.
Later, a City and Guilds Diploma in Textiles and PGCE in Adult Education have allowed me to continue to develop my professional interests in textiles and education.
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Archaeologist and Museum Curator
As a curator at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, I had the privilege of studying the internationally significant ethnographic collections collected by Lady Annie Brassey
http://www.hmag.org.uk/collections/durbar/
and Native American collections http://www.hmag.org.uk/collections/native_americans/
which have inspired much of my work.
Studying decorative objects in detail has enabled me to learn and study the construction techniques of a range of ethnographic textiles and beadwork.
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Further Education Art Tutor
I have been able to introduce students from leisure classes to degree undergraduates to the world of design, textiles and camera-less photography.
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