About Kate
My love of all things botanical began over 45 years ago when I started working as a florist. I trained in floristry and floral design at Eggleston Hall in County Durham. You may remember the reality show on ITV “Ladette to Lady” series which ran from 2005. I was there in more serious times! Having recently swapped floristry for my (warmer) creative home studio, florals continue to inspire my work as a mixed media textile artist.
Flowers have many special meanings and we all have our favourites for lots of
different reasons, whether it’s colour, time of year, memories of loved ones or special places, my artwork is a visual connection which I hope bring as much joy to look at, as I experience in their making.
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Inspiration
The shapes, patterns, form and colour of flowers and foliage are at the heart of many of my creations. I use a variety of techniques to develop an artwork, including collage for texture and interest, printing to add depth, painting with thread using free motion embroidery, and sometimes if needed, some hand embroidery as a final
touch.
Preparation
My work begins with drawings in my sketchbook before exploring how to replicate it using textiles and thread whilst incorporating my own stylistic approach. Each piece is a unique and individual thread painting, which when mounted and framed makes for beautiful artwork.
Making
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Occasionally I’m inspired to use similar techniques and explore different subjects like animals and landscapes. Continually exploring and experimenting is part of the joy of working creatively with textiles.