Solstice - pen on stitched paper
Spectrum - acrylic on stitched paper
Tonal Cycle - monoprint on stitched paper
My practice has developed from a background in textiles and embroidery. My abstract, textural pieces are inspired by a fascination with pattern, and often draw from nature. Particular inspiration is taken from macro and microscopic imagery and a closer look at stone walls, tree bark, lichen and moss. Key themes run throughout my making process including repetition, transition and changing surfaces. Finished pieces are highly tactile; reliefs draw the viewer in to view from different angles and it can be difficult to resist running a finger across the intricate surfaces. The work often has a sense of movement, whether this is through physical manipulation of sculptural pieces or simply the way a surface changes across a two-dimensional piece.
My current body of work uses a variety of paper qualities for both sculptural and relief outcomes. The weight and texture of the chosen material informs construction methods and pattern as well as the overall feel of a piece. Subtle variations are achieved by hand dying, painting, printing or hand drawing and carefully selecting and composing the ‘units’ to construct a form or surface. Careful selection of elements and construction using hand and machine stitch are approached methodically to create gentle transitions and undulating forms.
Multiples in Green (detail)
Janus (detail)
Linear Cycle (detail)
Ray
Lichen Series: Double Concertina
Linear Concertina 1
Linear Concertina 3
Lichen Series: Apertures
Circling
Bloom
Burst
Janus Bloom