Page 12 - The Digital Cloth Issue 7

Often, I make the key pieces separately and exciting time to be involved with textiles; with so
then stitch them onto the background many materials new and old at our fingertips, and
substrate by hand or machine, adding extra new processes to explore and partner our
stitching until they’re incorporated. stitching. The creative possibilities are as
Because much of my 2D work is an attempt boundless as our imaginations.
to harmonise stitch with paint, print, You can see and learn more about my work at:

photography, papier-Mache or some other
process, I am learning to plan and practise,
rather than launch myself into projects. But
there is still room for flexibility; I like work
to grow organically where possible. Whether
realistic or abstracted, moody or uplifting, my
pieces aim to create a narrative with the
viewer and I am always striving to create
atmosphere.
I will work on any substrate that I can paint
and stitch into. My favourites at the moment

are 100% cotton watercolour paper, cold
pressed for texture, by Daler Rowney or
Fabriano and also 100% recycled cotton
rag Khadi paper (see ‘Outward Bound’ a
thread-painted hare in a watercolour and
stitched appliqué landscape, on Langton
Prestige Watercolour Paper by DR). To date,
I use Gutterman Sulky or Madeira rayon
threads, which add a lovely lustre and

highlighting shine to my work. However, I’ve
read a great deal about Aurifil cotton threads
and am planning to experiment; hoping that
these will help me achieve a fuller, more
textured effect, with the rayon to provide
highlights.
I like to shop locally and support the
Highstreet where possible and it’s always
good to be able to pay back an area that has
inspired so much of my work – the beautiful
Weald of Kent. My favourite local stockist is

World of Sewing in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
They stock a great variety of embroidery
threads, fabrics, substrates, equipment etc.
and their machine engineers have been
absolute life-savers.
I was both delighted and proud to be
accepted into the Society for Embroidered
Work in 2020. The aim of the society is to
showcase stitched work and raise its profile in

the world of Fine Art. This is such an