ABOUT ME
I graduated from Swansea Institute (now Swansea Metropolitan University) in 2005 gaining a BA (Hons) in Surface Pattern Design. After graduating I worked for the NHS, in retirement management and on funded projects in advocacy and employment training until 2012 when I became self employed as a textile artist, designer, maker.
I’ve always been interested in textiles and enjoyed knitting as a child and as I grew older I started making myself simple clothes and soft furnishings. During my BA I became increasingly aware of waste and recycling – giving something another life. In my final project I worked with used car air filters scrounged from a local mot centre and I found colour and shape inspiration in breaker’s yards in Swansea. I used the printing rooms and resources in university as much as possible and found print was a medium I enjoyed working in. I experimented printing on anything and everything I could find, including the car air filters!
Before moving to Swansea I had completed a HND in Design Crafts in Coleg Menai and was able to use and develop the skills learnt in the wood and metal workshops on my new course. Prior to my HND I also gained qualifications in creative textiles and embroidery. My work incorporates a variety of disciplines and techniques that I’ve learnt over the years to create textile art pieces, accessories and cards. My inspirations currently come from photographs I take of the local landscape – the colours of the hills and fields and the textures and coarseness of the beach. I photograph the way the weather changes the views, bright and dark, wild and calm.
As well as creating my textiles I work as a free-lance tutor and assistant artist for locally based national charities, such as Stroke Association, council arts services and community based social enterprises and residential homes, working with adults and children. I also run private solo textile workshops for adults and in collaboration with other artists.
Hand dyed and screen printed framed fabric.
Manipulated car air filter
Photograph: Swansea Breaker’s Yard