Inspired by a trip to beautiful Rannoch Moor this Tapestry explores the relationship between the smooth hard surface of the tree stumps and the wet acidic bog they sit in. I hand spun some of the yarns used in the moss sections myself. The red background colour came from a lichen I found growing amongst the mosses.
This Tapestry woven in silks, mohair and linen came about after seeing the golden cut ends of Sitka fir tree logs weeping resin waiting to be transported. I designed it literally on the back of a brown envelope sat in a car park on a rainy day in Scotland. The background is woven in silks and wools with mohair used to create a raised texture, the logs are woven in wools linens with small additionss of lurex thread to represent the resin.
This panel was inspired by a walk one dark foggy autumn evening. The council had failed to sweep the leaves before painting the new yellow lines on the road, as the leaves rotted the result was these wonderful natural stencils. The challenge here was to create a yarn blend that caught the light like the reflective paint at night. the green moss grows on my own road in the cuts made by the still saws in the tarmac when telecommunication systems were being installed.
The Bird Series
As a schoolgirl I was both a member of the school ornithology club and the YOC, the RSPB youth section. This interest has never left me, birds feature not only in my tapestries but also in birds made from recycled fabrics, I have produced many one offs and private commissions in recent years.
Tapestry miniatures of birds.
This tapestry is titled 'The Chosen One' and represents friendship. The geraniums along the bottom are symbolic of true friendship and the pebbles my friends, the crow is carefully choosing one. We meet many people in a lifetime and some are destined to be extra special to us, this tapestry celebrates that.
The first paper image is a cartoon - a true scale outline image that hangs behind my warps. My loom is made of old scaffolding bars and acro props.
The first paper image is a cartoon - a true scale outline image that hangs behind my warps. My loom is made of old scaffolding bars and acro props.
This piece is called 'Hollyhocks and Finches'. The white hollyhock are symbolic of female ambition, the finches are ideas and energy. It was designed to represent the studios and workshop space I work in and the artists I shared the space with.
'Promenade' is a tapestry inspired by a trip to Scarborough. I was watching the pigeons and seagulls walking between and under the park beds like people out for a seaside stroll. I played around with the images and finally chose Grey Partridge and Solomon Seal.
Fatsia and Starlings was designed to represent a Victorian town garden. I had already drawn the starlings on Redcar sea front and the fatsia grows in my own garden.