Description of my work: I am a weaver/textile artist. Weaving by hand on traditional-style handlooms I produce contemporary woven textiles in my Norwich studio in the east of England.
I have enjoyed weaving for many years, producing scarves for sale, one-off designs for exhibitions, working to commission, and running workshops. My dyed and handwoven shawl in silk and alpaca ‘Norwich Red’ has recently been purchased for the permanent collection of Norwich Castle Museum. Woven with delicate dyed and painted threads, especially silk, work ranges from gossamer-fine silk scarves to woven transparencies. I particularly enjoy making shawls in fine wools and silk which can equally be used as a throw or hanging. Each piece is unique; I use colour in a painterly way making each item a one-off. Large scale hangings and 3D pieces may also incorporate materials such as copper wire and found objects as I love exploring the possibilities of unlikely combinations. Woven transparencies play with the idea of shadow, reflection and 3D effects.
Themes are informed by fleeting changes in nature: of skies, ripples of wind and water, reflections and shadows. This is explored in the weaving by use of undulating threads, curve and drape, layers and transparency. I have a background in education, and enjoy giving tuition and running workshops. I am an Artist/Educator for the Sainsbury Centre of Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, a selected member of Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society, chosen for the ‘Selected’ website of Craft and Design and a leader for HF activity holidays. Visitors are welcome to my studio.
Biography: PERSONAL INFORMATION
Current: Own studio practice. Textile artist-weaver 2017 work purchased for permanent collection of Norwich Castle Museum UK 2010 selected as Artist-Educator Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts University of East Anglia UK 2006 selected member of Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society, committee member
Qualified teacher: experience encompasses early years to further education
INVITED/SELECTED for EXHIBITION, some examples: Costume and Textile Association competition exhibition: Norwich Shawl 2016 Silvery Threads 2014 National Exhibition: Guild of Weavers Spinners Dyers 2014 Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society: exhibitions 06-16 Art Alive: Assembly House Norwich 2013 Norfolk Contemporary Art NCAS 2008 Norwich Textile Fair: invited to exhibit at the John Innes Centre 2009 Salthouse 06: Contemporary Art Exhibition
WORKSHOPS/TEACHING, some examples: 2016-17: Tutor for HF Holidays residential craft holidays 2015 Textures of Time weaving workshop (stained glass theme) and talk on my work, St John Maddermarket Church Norwich for the Churches’ Conservation Trust 2015: Meandering Threads’ talk for Cambridge Guild Weavers Spinners & Dyers 2014 Stitched Tapestry 6 month project at Thalia Theatre Company, arts based group for adults with learning disabilities 2013: Cley Arts Festival School workshop ‘Mapping the Marshes’ Spring 2011: Associate Tutor University of East Anglia, for Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts exhibition ‘Basketry: Making Human Nature’, leading school, family, and community workshops 2011-2013: Tutor for Dragon Hall Medieval Merchants’ Hall Norwich. Regular one and two day textile workshops, also led a week’s Summer School ‘Creative Art Weaving’ for Cultivating Cloth creative textile events. January 2011: Voluntary work at Suryapur School for Visually and Hearing Impaired Girls near Kolkata India: Inset for trainee teachers on tactile approaches to learning, introducing textile art and craft activities to students.