Through the tactile transformation of wool, I create sculptural forms that explore the intricate beauty of nature and the power of personal connection.
Born in London, I grew up in Northamptonshire and now live in Rushden with my daughter. I have had an interest in Music and the Arts and completed a Fashion Design course after leaving school. Throughout my life I have coped with having Bells’ Palsy and Epilepsy including sight and hearing loss, but creating art has given me more self-confidence and a belief that I can tackle anything.
My love for needle felting started with a penguin kit my daughter and I made together during the first Covid lockdown in 2020. Since then, I have learnt how to create a variety of sculptures with Waldorf style Gonks being my initial creations and I have recently incorporated wet felting into my art as it gives the wool a distinct textural quality and visual softness.
The needle felting process itself involves using specialist barbed needles which when stuck repeatedly into the wool results in it being bound together. Complex 3D sculptures can take over 40 hours of manual labour to create. For wet felting, it begins with layers of wool being arranged and dampened with soapy water which is then rolled several times to matt the fibres into one piece. Embroidery is sometimes added to give the piece more depth and add a different texture to the overall scene.
When undertaking bespoke commissions, I am so proud and honoured that customers have asked me to recreate a personal photograph in wool or an ornament based on their hand drawn sketches. The influence of nature and landscapes continues to inform my artistic decisions. The interplay between needle and wet felting techniques, driven by my desire to elevate wool as a fine art medium, fuels the evolution of my work.
My creative place at home is the spare room and my kitchen table is often scattered with a variety of dyed wool blends including Wensleydale, Alpaca, Bamboo and Merino. I feel like there is a playful and whimsical aspect to my work as the outcome of wet felted wool is so unpredicted.
Continually inspired by nature I want to create art I have a personal connection with which brings me joy and happiness. I have a passion for flowers as they evoke special feelings from war time poppies to Ukrainian sunflowers and of course Forget-me-Nots in memory for those we have lost.
As I continue to learn new felting techniques and develop my own style I am exhibiting in Northamptonshire to showcase my wool art and highlight it as a different art medium. I strive to create art which evokes emotion.
