Artist Statement

Being outside in the countryside is good for the soul and I draw my inspiration from nature and the local landscape, breathing in and absorbing my surroundings as I go on my walks. I take photographs and make sketches and then develop these further to use in my pieces.
As a textile artist I use fibre as an expressive art form. My primary method is wet felting using mainly merino wool with other fibres to create light and texture. I then stitch onto the piece to add further detail.
In wet felting, the dyed wool fibres are laid out to produce a design. This process involves blending the different coloured fibres and using as many as six or more layers to complete the design. Other fibres and threads can be incorporated for different effects. Soapy water is then applied to the wool which is gently rubbed until the felting process begins. Further agitation and compression by rubbing and rolling causes the wool fibres to hook together and shrink producing a solid piece of fabric.
Felting has a habit of throwing up the unexpected, creating a sense of excitement each time I start a new piece. My work is ever changing and evolving as I experiment, learn and find new ways to achieve the effects I want. I am on a continuous journey of discovery.