My Felting Journey

I came across felting by accident.  I wanted to learn a new hobby and felt was suggested.  I already knew the tutor Jayne and attended her ten-week introduction course.  When I was invited to participate in the Brighton and Hove Art trail it was suggested that as all the other artists worked with textiles, I exhibited my felt.  I was surprised at the success and have since focused on developing my craft and teaching further. I teach for the Workers Education Association based in Hove, presently online and I sell my products through a gift shop in Bexhill.   As life returns back to normality I hope to resume face to face teaching.

I love working with wool.  It is a wonderful versatile fluffy fibre.  Wool is the original fibre and has been in use since prehistoric times when man begin to clothe himself.  Wool is used for art and for survival.  It is dyed to add appeal and to create art.   Wet felt is a long-established heritage craft and needle felting is a fairly new craft, with the first needle felting machine being patented in 1859, and it was not till the 1990’s that it began to become a hobby. Needle felting is therapeutic. I enjoy both techniques.

My Teaching

Having formalised my teaching with a degree from Brighton University I’ve taught for City College, Brighton and Hove and Aspire Sussex as well as hosting private classes in my studio,

When teaching I believe that the students ‘enjoyment and achievements are central to a successful learning experience. I run felt making workshops including numo felting, painting, sculpturing and making accessories.

Wool Paintings

I love to create paintings using a variety of felting techniques.  I make the canvas laying down wisps of wool fibre, using the same technique create a background wash like a painter.  More wool is added to create the painting, I use the ancient process of wet felting for this gently felting the wool using agitation gently rubbing the fibres to help them felt together and then progress onto rolling the fabric I’ve made. Sometimes I include other materials including silk, bamboo, banana and other lovely fibres to create further interest.

Finally, I begin to rework the picture adding more detail, highlights and shadows using fine needle felting. This is a wonderful process that produces an exciting piece of textile artwork.