Wales is a country rich in stories and full of storytellers. Although spoken poetry and prose have long been used to preserve and recount shared memories, literacy skills are a relatively recent addition to the recording of Welsh cultural history. Tales and songs are now widely accessible and lend themselves to crafted interpretations – as do imaginings inspired by the legend, landscape and people of this ancient land.
I stitch surface embellishment using appliqué and creative embroidery on even weave fabric or hand-made felt. Drawing on existing or composed poetic snatches, I craft pieces of art which – while separate – can be viewed together at exhibition to form a coherent narrative stitchery.
Deceptions of Solitude
A collection of pieces made during and just after the Covid 19 pandemic, Deceptions of Solitude relate to the imagined tension between Christian and pre Christian spirituality at a Bronze Age burial mount and ancient church which exist on a local hillside that I could visit easily even during movement restrictions.
Lingering Fragments
A series of 10 mixed media art works, each placed on a linen banner upon which has been printed a poetic tercet in a version of a Welsh englyn – in this case, a verse consisting of three lines, each with seven syllables. Both the art and poetry illustrate a dialogue between two protagonists either side of mortality and express emotions and arguments relating to the human condition and existentialism.
Etifeddiaeth
Inspired by the tragedy which forms the background to Cân Heledd (Heledd’s Lament), Etifeddiaeth includes hand embroidery on hand made felt, free weaving on a a circular frame and examples of appliqué. Each piece is named for and memorialises a person or place in the lament.
The Dragons of Cwm Garw Fechan
The dragons formed the basis of a local exhibition which was designed to be accessible to all ages and abilities. Many of the created artefacts were made to be handled. The fact that visitors could relate to the locations mentioned in the descriptions of displayed pieces made the exhibition popular, particularly with children and their accompanying adults.
Coity Wallia
First exhibited in Oriel Lliw in Pontardawe in 2012, many of these pieces were subsequently shown in various events in the following few years. They were worked by needle-felting locally sourced sheep fleece into an even weave wool canvas. Creative embroidery and beading added surface embellishment.
