The inspiration behind my textiles work is to produce decorative pieces which make the most of colour and texture.

The thumbnails (please click for larger image and details) show of some of my hangings. Some of these pieces have been sold (if no price is given) but are included in the selection to show a variety of sizes, themes and styles. Commissions are welcome. I can produce a piece based on one you see here, or something completely different. I am always interested in a new challenge.

Colour is the starting point for all my work. I begin each piece with an idea of colours I want to use and decisions about size, style and design follow from this.

The style of the hangings is influenced by a mixture of Indian textiles, Chinese carpet designs, European embroidery, Edwardian tiles and many other artefacts and the content by themes from the natural world such as flowers, fish, birds, elephants, lizards and butterflies. I find these the most pleasing shapes to work with, and they allow an exploration of colour that is often quite far from reality while still retaining the general feel of the subject.

There are two main styles of work, those with painted silk backgrounds and those with plain fabric backgrounds. Other fabrics, mainly silks and polyesters, are then applied by machine. Please go to "background to the wallhangings" for a more detailed explanation of the processes with some illustrations. (Please note that these images are high resolution and may take some time to load.) On many of the larger hangings the major part of the embroidery work is done by hand whereas most of the work on the mini hangings is done by machine. On recent pieces, however, e.g. Butterfly Garden and Buddleia, I have been developing a new way of painting combined with an emphasis on machine embroidery.

I use threads with a good sheen and complement them with metallic thread, beads, sequins, mirrors, etc. for further sparkle. The hangings are completed by ceramic pieces, beads or tassels, which contribute to both the form and texture of the pieces. The ceramic shapes are fired to a low temperature, then painted with watercolour and acrylics.

I have never put my work behind glass, so that the textures can be fully appreciated. However, the hangings are extremely easy to keep in their original condition with an occasional light brushing as they have all been treated with a fabric protector. At the back, a ring on each side makes them easy to hang from two simple picture pins. The hangings look equally at home in modern or traditional surroundings.

If you cannot afford a hanging at the moment, greetings cards using photographs of some of the hangings are available from a number of shops and galleries or directly from me.

Please click on "How to buy" to find where you can buy my wallhangings or contact me by email to discuss purchasing or ordering a wallhanging directly from me.