I am a Nowra Textile Artist working with printing and dyeing, fabric, threads and stitch for over 40 years.

After graduating as an Art teacher from Uni of NSW COFA I went overseas on a scholarship to study printmaking in Budapest, Hungary. On my return I began teaching Art in Secondary schools and continuing my own art making.

In 1999 I was employed by the Bundanon Trust as an Education Officer delivering Art Programs at the new Riversdale Education Centre, working with students of all ages and adult learners. I am still enjoying this role at the current time, inspiring the next generation of young art makers.

 

In my own Art practice I work with the tactile nature of fabrics, the clarity of the printed image and the variety of dyed hues, aiming to highlight the natural beauty of the bushland environment through these mediums. My art quilts blur the lines between art and traditional quilting. For me the focus is on the art work rather than the quilting process, although I create stitched, layered textile pieces. The infinite variety and beauty of individual leaves, vines and rocks, and the colours and patterns of the macro environment in the bush have always been an inspiration for me.

In my recent practice I have explored using eucalyptus leaves and many other plants from the bush to eco dye silk, wool, cotton, and paper and capture the unpredictable images left behind by the dyeing process. These dyed pieces are then developed further using my own screenprinted designs creating a contrast between the organic and man made image.

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Printmaking is a major part of my practice. I screenprint onto a variety of textiles (especially silk) and have been exploring layering fabrics with different images to develop the feeling of depth and randomness characteristic of the forest. I then pad, stitch and embellish with thread or contrasting elements (beading, metal, wire, fringing) to add dimension and detail.

Recent success has been selection to exhibit at the World Quilt Competition held in Manchester USA (2016) my work 'Forest Understory' and another work 'Forest Moonlight, exhibited around Australia (2016) is now touring USA as part of Ozquilt Network AW5 - a juried exhibition showcasing the work of a select group of Australian art quilters.

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My work can be seen in the online members gallery of Ozquilt network and is held in a number of collections including Craft Council NSW, Shoalhaven City Council, Bundanon Trust and private Collections. I have written a number of articles reflecting current art practice in the Textile field, published in the Textile Fibre Forum magazine. Member of Megalo Print Studio, Canberra. Member of ATASDA. Member of Print Council of Australia

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