I am a multidisciplinary artist and textile practitioner moving between making, teaching, mentoring and sharing a longstanding love of cloth and stitch.
At the heart of my practice is a deep connection to aesthetics, to the visual and material qualities found in everyday life. Quiet or overlooked encounters often become the starting point for my work: a weathered surface, a fragment of landscape, an object, texture or fleeting detail that invites closer observation.
Stitch has been a constant throughout my creative life. Where others may turn to drawing or painting, I instinctively reach for needle and thread. Textiles provide my primary language, while photography, paper, paint, ink, natural dyes and found materials allow me to extend that language through layering, surface design and mixed media.
My practice is both intuitive and exploratory. I am drawn to contrasts, and allow materials and processes to influence the direction a work takes. Appliqué, hand stitch, thread painting and surface manipulation sit comfortably alongside experimentation with less conventional materials and processes.
Alongside my studio practice sits Margie & Bert, the more public-facing and community-based expression of my creativity. Through Margie & Bert I operate my pop-up-shop, offer textile art workshops and studio days, develop patterns and kits, and visit stitching groups as a tutor and guest presenter.
While these aspects of my work may appear quite different, they are intrinsically connected. The curiosity and experimentation that underpins my art practice also informs the way I teach. Rather than simply demonstrating technique, I encourage others to observe, experiment and develop confidence in their own creative decision-making.
Whether I am developing an artwork in the studio, mentoring another artist, teaching a textile workshop or gathering beautiful fabrics for Margie & Bert, the philosophy remains much the same: creativity begins with curiosity, and there is always value in seeing things differently.