Statement

From a background in sculpture I have moved into working with fabric and yarn. My inspiration comes mainly from the world around me and the interaction of nature, people, and the political and environmental events that confront them. My work is an attempt to record the feeling and texture of landscapes and events, and my personal reaction to them. I try to capture my ideas with the use of bold and vibrant colour. I feel strongly that art should be accessible, and should be written about in simple terms that are easily understood. Some of my work has had a social and political dimension. I have attempted to explore the themes of displacement, conflict and personal identity; always seeking to convey a sense of dignity and endurance.

The work always begins with sketches in water soluble crayons, smudging to suggest layers, and using sharp lines to suggest threads. However my work only takes off once I am handling the materials and juxtaposing different textures, colours and densities. Re-cycling a rich variety of materials is an important part of my work. I hate the idea of waste. Decisions and choices only come easily to me if they are part of a large range of possibilities.

Constantly building up my work, I very seldom, if ever, remove fabric or stitches. If it doesn’t seem to work then I add more, exploring the tensions, strengths and weaknesses of the piece. The manipulation of fabric and the building up of a surface of layers continue to fascinate me. I try to explore the idea of suggested or evocative forms and atmosphere, rather than making too bold or direct a statement.

I am above all a hand-stitcher. That way, I feel I have more control over colour, texture and communication. Although I refer to sketches and ideas in note books, I can never work to a final and conceived finished idea. It needs to grow organically. I devise techniques to fit the concept; not to dictate it.

Qualifications

2002	Master Class with Julia Caprara
2000	Opus School of Textile Arts City and Guilds Creative Embroidery, parts 1 and 2
1967	Art teaching in London and Oxford
1964	Hornsey College of Art, Art Teacher‘s Certificate
1958	Oxford School of Art, National Diploma in Design, (Sculpture and Lithography)

Exhibitions

2015	Prism Exhibition, Hoxton Arches, London
2015	Oxfordshire Art Weeks, Oxford
2014	Prism Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2013	Prism Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2012	Prism Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2011	Prism Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2010	Prism Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2009	Diana Springall Collection, Macclesfield Museum
2009	Prism Mall Galleries, London
2008	Prism Mall Galleries, London
2008	The Oxford Open Modern Art, Oxford
2007	Prism Mall Galleries, London
2006	Prism Mall Galleries, London
2005	This is Opus, 16 West Smithfield, London
2005	Prism Mall Galleries, London
2004	Prism Mall Galleries, London
2004	Committed to Cloth Chequer Mead Arts Centre, East Grinstead
2004	Committed to Cloth/Knitting and Stitching Show, London and Harrogate
2004	Oxford Embroiderers’ Guild Touring exhibition
2003	Prism Mall Galleries, London
2003	Reflex Cajobah Gallery, Liverpool
2002	Opus (C & G Part 2) Museum of London
2001	Opus (C & G Part 1) Congress House, London

Publication and reviews

Workshop on the Web review of Prism 2008 exhibition, March 2008.visit site

Prinkie Roberts, “From Sketch to Stitch”, Stitch magazine, no. 44, December 2006/January 2007, pp. 34:6.

Review of Prism 2007 exhibition, Popular Patchwork, issue 6, 2007

Review of Prism 2007 exhibition, Embroidery magazine, May/June 2007.Download

Workshop on the Web review of Prism 2007 exhibition, March 2007.visit site

Claire Benn, “Committed to Cloth Exhibitions 2004”, Workbox magazine, no. 93, June/July 2005, pp. 8:11.

Workshop on the Web review of Committed to Cloth, 2004 exhibition, December 2004.visit site