Artist Statement

Birds, seas and landscapes, real or imaginary, feature in my embroidered textiles, prints and photomontages. Experimentation is a joy; I often merge different art practices to achieve the desired effect.

My textile work is varied. For some pieces I will use painting on silk as a base, building the design by adding batik, embroidery and beading, and use either machine, or hand embroidery or both. For others I will use my photomontages printed on watercolour paper as a substrate, and use embroidery and appliqué to create another dimension.

I increasingly use words in my work, adding a further area for the viewer to contemplate. When working on a textile piece the words are often created by free machining on net.

I love to make black and white lino prints, using rubber-based ink which create the most intense blacks, sometimes adding watercolour and Chiné colle detail for that ping of colour. I also enjoy making collographs, again often featuring birds in imaginary landscapes.

I build photomontages from my own photographs of landscapes, seas, rivers, birds (you name it!), merging different elements that appeal to me, to create a new inner vision from the reality around me.

My recent photomontage, 'Loss' (a detail is in the brochure), emerged out of the deaths of close family members. I’m not expecting people to get where I’m coming from - I don’t really know myself other than I needed to make the work. The surging waves speak to me of rage and turmoil. The graves are literally ‘all at sea’. The albatross for me signifies strength, endurance, hope and love, a message that all will be well.

Please visit our exhibition at Studio with a View, 86 Nunsfield Road, Buxton, SK17 7BW, where I will be exhibiting with the very talented Pam Smart.

Refreshments available.