Artist statement
I am inspired by the natural world, by the marks and scars left by man and the elements. I like to play creatively with textiles, paper, thread, paint, stitch, glue, and even beach finds. Behind me I have many years of learning in the Embroiderers Guild, but my work has moved on from the rules and restrictions of traditional embroidery.
Extended Bio
I have a lifetime of experience with a needle and thread - having been taught to stitch and embroider at home and at primary school. I was making my own clothes before I reached the age of 12. I also made bags, pencil cases, toys, and puppets etc. Secondary school art introduced me to the elements of artistic expression using textiles with silk painting and using embroidery and found objects as decorative elements for clothing.
But this didn't come back into play until the early 1990s when as I young mother I joined a creative textile workshop taught by Ness Walker and run by Aberdeen City Council. This led to membership of the Embroiderers Guild and more than 30 years of stimulating friendships, talks and workshops.
In 2011 I enrolled in a City And Guilds course in Design and Craft (Embroidery) at Moray College, UHI, Elgin under the tuition of June Hyndman. I completed the Certificate in 2013 and the Diploma in 2015.
I have participated in a number of Embroiderers Guild exhibitions, both national and local. I have also exhibited with NEOS every year since 2014 (excepting the Covid years).
I have been commissioned to produce work to enrich the homes of local people.
I was invited to join Embroidery Textiles Tutors Scotland in 2015 and have been involved in facilitating textile art workshops since then, including regular 5 day workshops at Gartmore House, Aberfoyle.
I try to do something new every year, using on line workshops or the ETTS weekend refresher weekends as a jumping off point.
I am possibly best known for my fantastical fabric figures, Willow Pattern Sanderlings, Silk Paper Decorated Vases and Textile Seascapes, although I work in a wide variety of ways with a wide variety of techniques as the mood takes me.
