My current body of work 'Rooted' explores what it is to be rooted in community, the natural world, heritage and tradition, identity and in faith.
'Dignify' was brought to life in response to a request from charity Dignify Watford (Dignify.org) to create a piece which reflected their ethos, which is to bring dignity through promoting healthy relationships.
To dignify means to give respect to, to honour, to raise up, to exalt.
I am a textile artist from Hertfordshire. I create pieces of freeform soft sculptured wall art, hand knitted with natural yarns.
I began painting in 2009. My initial exploration into art was in the medium of acrylic painting. I quickly moved, however, into using mixed media as I discovered a love for texture and pattern. Over time, I developed my own style of weaving together colour, pattern, texture and stitching to create mixed media pieces. I believe my work has always reflected my creative and positive approach to life, and also my Christian faith.
I found myself increasingly drawn towards textiles and fully made the transition to textile art in 2018. I have been knitting since the tender age of 3 or 4 years old, taught by my mother and my grandmother. I enjoy exploring the boundaries of knitting and the potential for knitting to be greater than merely functional.
Each of my pieces is hand knitted. I choose to work using natural yarns. The production of knitted samplers has allowed me to explore the texture and possibilities of different tension, yarns and stitches. These are then incorporated into large, freeform, soft sculptured wall hangings, which while often delicate, create a surprising impact.