ABOUT THE ARTIST
My process-led practice is based on personal engagement with landscape and has sustainability at its heart. I am fascinated by the detail of organic things and my work celebrates and carries an essence of what I experience in the natural world. My background in physical geography and nature conservation underpins my artistic practice.
I work with natural fibres and gathered materials, employing natural dyes, stitch, weave and soft basketry techniques. These elements come together in different combinations to create grouped surfaces and structures. Found items form the focus of my response to a landscape, forming tangible links to the places they were gathered from. I take an experimental approach to these found objects: by engaging with the materials that I find, manipulating them and experimenting, I learn about their properties, boundaries and possibilities. This exploration becomes a collaboration between object and artist. My allotment plot forms the focus of my work, providing an abundant source of materials. Read more about Plot 105 in Projects.
I studied Contemporary Surface Design & Textiles at Bradford School of Arts & Media and completed an MA in Creative Practice at Leeds Arts University. I work from the allotment and my studio in Saltaire, West Yorkshire, UK. I exhibit, lecture and teach workshops nationally and internationally. I am a member of the Textile Study Group.
Education
2017-2019 : MA Creative Practice : Leeds Arts University
2006-2011 : 1st Class BA (hons) Contemporary Surface Design & Textiles : Bradford School of Arts & Media
1994 – 1997 : 2:1 BSc (hons) Geography : University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Awards and Membership
2024 : Theo Moorman Trust for Weavers grant
2021 : Janome Fine Art Textiles Award – shortlisted
2021 : Develop Your Creative Practice award (ACE)
2019 : Vlieseline Fine Art Textiles Award – Commended
2015 : Craft & Design Selected Maker Awards finalist
2014 – ongoing : Textile Study Group: Member
2014 : Silver Award, Craft & Design Selected Maker Awards
2014 : Tide Marks tour (ACE funded)
July 2012 : Artist in Residence, Farfield Mill, Cumbria
Mar-Sep 2012 : Artist in Residence, Spurn NNR (ACE funded)
Aug 2011 : Quilters Guild BA Student Bursary: joint winner
WORK IN COLLECTIONS
Bodleian Libraries Special Collection, Oxford, UK
Ahmanson Collection, USA
Newcastle City Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
International Quilt Museum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA