Artist Statement

My needle-felted artwork is made with sheep’s wool and scraps of fabric and yarn - humble, warm, forgiving materials with almost endless possibilities. My ‘canvases’ are often old woollen blankets that I wash, dye and cut up; sometimes I also use soft pieces of carded wool as a base. The shapes of fruit, vegetables, insects and plants are really satisfying to recreate and I use strong, uplifting colours that take me back to my childhood in the Middle East and to the years when I lived in Italy. I’m inspired by the work of May Morris (the infinitely talented daughter of William Morris) and the incredible craftspeople who, for centuries, decorated the homes of the wealthy in Europe, the Middle East, China and the UK. My long daily dog walks (I’m a professional dog-walker) in the stunning Peak District provide constant inspiration, too.