Born in Yorkshire and living in Staffordshire, I’ve always had a love of textiles which was further developed through the University of Derby Foundation Degree course in Art and Design Practice (at Leek College).   I’ve now been hand weaving on and off for more than twenty-five years and I’m an active member of my local Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild.  Currently I weave on an 8-shaft traditional Swedish floor loom which enables lots of choices and great variations in design.

Hand weaving is a slow process and can’t be hurried.  The design comes first followed by creating a warp and then ‘dressing’ the loom.  The final stage is the weaving itself which I find both calming and meditative.  There is also the opportunity to tweak the design as you weave.  I never tire of discovering new techniques and creating new designs and colour combinations.  The choice of colours and weave structures is almost infinite and I aim for every piece I weave to be different and unique.  At the same time. Sustainability is important to me and so in my practice I like to use recycled materials or yarns left over from industry which would otherwise go to landfill.  When I buy new yarns, I aim to source sustainable materials.  The 100% alpaca yarn in my scarves is untreated, which means that it is simply washed and not exposed to any chemical treatment prior to the dyeing. This highlights the fibre’s natural properties and means the finished scarves are not only warm but also buttery soft