2025 | 87cm x 38cm | Double coloured cotton warp (grey and blue) sett at 2.5 epc. Weft yarns are mercerised cotton, cotton warp, wool and silk.
Fragile Earth - Winterbourne was inspired by the chalk-filtered waters of the River Lavant in West Sussex. I walked and drew the Lavant on a West Dean course in May 2023. The clear fast-flowing water reflected the blue sky and supported thick mats of water-crowfoot with its yellow-centred white flowers. The Lavant is a winterbourne, a river that is dry during the summer months. As one of only 200 rare chalk streams in the UK, it provides important habitats for wildlife and plants. My tapestry shows the beauty of the river and its fragility. After heavy rainfall, it is vulnerable to pollution by waste water discharges and agricultural run-off. The darker colours represent pollution encroaching on the river, threatening its delicate ecosystem. Eccentric weaving techniques emphasise the movement and flow of the water. Soumak and knotting represent the water-crowfoot.
Exhibited
Picking Up The Thread: British Tapestry Group 20th Anniversary Exhibition – 2025