Sue taught Art Textiles in F.E for many years before retiring and having the time to focus on her own work which demonstrates her love of colour, pattern and texture in textiles.
Starting points are usually experimental mark making, the use of collage, or mixed media techniques. Sue draws inspiration from the natural world and is also interested in architectural forms.
Work is constructed of layers of hand dyed and printed fabrics which are pieced together to create depth of colour and spontaneous imagery. It is the materials themselves which indicate the direction the work will take, and often ideas change as Sue introduces new fabrics or recycles pieces. The addition of hand printed sheer fabrics used as an overlay generates interesting colour variation to Sue’s work which is further enhanced with hand and or machine embroidery.
Recent works include landscapes using combinations of fabrics including vintage lace, fragments of knitted yarn and hand printed silk. These are combined with beads, shells and sometimes interesting elements like rusty bolts and nails which add character and texture to the piece.
Sue has discovered another direction by exploring the concept of an ‘irregular edge’ in pieces such as The Roaches and Garden 2021. These are composed of individual sections of printed fabrics enhanced with hand and machine stitch.
www.instagram.com/suestextiles