My original training and degree was in wood, metal, ceramics and plastics.As students we were encouraged to experiment with our materials and find out what we could do with them before we stared to design our finished pieces. Great importance was placed on sketchbooks and folders and drawing from life and observation was compulsory. This has become the foundation for the way I teach. I am also becoming more interested in assisting students to develop original designs and will be offering separate workshops to cover this.

I have various textile/stitch qualifications and am an experienced adult education tutor. I offer a range of workshops over various periods of time.

1 day Workshops
If you are a student on one of my one day workshops it is unlikely you will leave with anything finished. I am more interested in developing your ideas and teaching you processes for you to develop at a later date. You will leave with notes on what you have done and some hopefully excellent samples.

3 – 5 day Workshops
Longer workshops enable us to develop more ideas and give more time to resolve a small, considered piece of work.

1 Day Workshops

Hot Textiles

A day to experiment with latest exciting materials for use in textile art.

Create amazing textures. Learn how to use heat tools imaginatively and safely.
Work through basic processes to more complicated layered techniques.
Suitable for beginners or anyone wishing to develop their work further.

Transforming Transfers

Discover the joys of layering techniques.
We will be working mostly with synthetic fabrics and transfer paints (disperse dyes). Learn how to use transfer paints to create beautiful effects then use heat tools to distress and work into your fabrics. This course would be suitable for anyone wishing to develop layered, stitched surfaces. You will have time to create a range of 2 and 3 dimensional samples to develop at a later date.

On the Surface

An opportunity for you to enjoy and explore all the techniques for surface decoration you have been wanting to try but haven’t yet found the time!

Create wonderful surfaces to stitch – or not!
Techniques will include –
Hot Foiling, painted ‘Bondaweb’, 3D medium, ‘Tyvek’ & more . . . .

Zap! Pow! Slash! & Burn!

You will discover the fun & versatility of 'Kunin Felt'. Build up decorative, lacy textures with foils and embossing powders that you can manipulate and stitch in to.
Have fun with heat guns and soldering irons.

Tinkering with ‘Tyvek’

One of the most exciting products to be used in textiles! We will paint it, stitch it, heat it, & incorporate it with other synthetics to create fascinating textures, vessels and sculptural forms. (‘Tyvek’ can be bought from the tutor)

Decorated Papers

Papers of varying weights and content can be decorated, dyed and stitched just like fabric! Great for book and card making. Transform plain papers into lustrous and jewel like surfaces ready to bead and stitch into.

Luscious Lutradur

A whole day to experiment and develop new techniques with all the latest materials for surface decoration and 3d work.

You will discover the joys of various weights of Lutradur and much more.

We will be colouring and layering with various products to create amazing textures and effects to stitch into by hand or machine.

The Journey

Take a journey, imaginary or otherwise and learn how to create your own designs and printing blocks. You will leave with several designs and printing blocks ready to start on your next masterpiece.

Creating Original Designs

(Can be linked to Creating Original Printing Blocks) Never be afraid of the ‘D’ word again! We will work though several formulas for creating original designs, discussing the use of colour and materials. Working with paper, paints and pencils you will generate enough designs on this day to last you for years to come.

Creating Original Printing Blocks

(Can be linked to Creating Original Designs)
You will learn how to make printing blocks from previously generated designs and experiment with ways of building up your designs with over printing.
The blocks could be used on paper or fabric.

3 - 5 day Workshops

Rhythm & Space

Design and create with music in mind. Music can provoke its own colour palette & textures. Orchestrate layers of texture and colour, incorporating surface decoration techniques, print, dye and stitch. This should be a truly symphonic experience! Students will work through original designs and create their own printing blocks.

There will be time to finish a small piece of work.

Zap! Pow! Slash! & Burn!

Have fun experimenting with disperse dyes and synthetic fabrics including ‘Kunin’ felt, Lutradur and Evolon.

The course will involve demonstrations and plenty of practical advice. Come and create some amazing surfaces to stitch in 2 and 3D.

The Full Works

An opportunity for you to enjoy and explore all the techniques for surface decoration you have wanted to try but haven’t yet found the time. Create wonderful surfaces to stitch or – not! Processes will include, painted ‘Bondaweb’, ‘Tyvek’, Lutradur, embossing powders and HPV+.

Combine the exciting and transforming properties of ‘Tyvek’ and synthetic organza. Create fascinating textures and layers to stitch into and make beautiful 3D forms.

We will be working through all the basic surface decoration techniques.

Extreme Surfaces for Stitch

A chance for students to develop and explore the latest materials and revisit old ones.

This will be an opportunity to create a portfolio of considered stitched samples on new layered surfaces. We will be using heat processes, dyes, hand and machine stitch in a relaxed and professional environment. Experimenting with new and exciting layered surfaces that have been created with heat guns and soldering irons will help you develop new ways of working; whether its large or small scale or in 2 or 3 dimensions. This course would be suitable for any level of experience.

Design, Interpretation and Inspiration

The workshop of the book ‘Experimental Textiles’.

Enjoy the journey through design, interpretation and inspiration. You will be led gently through each part of this 4 day course creating original designs and discussing different ways of interpreting ideas. There will be time to develop a considered sample and work on a sketchbook.

4 days of colour, stitch and design, what more could you ask?

It’s NOT all Black & White!

Have fun with colour and design. We will be creating original designs and working with colour, procion and disperse dyes (transfer paints). Build up layers of amazing textures with ‘Tyvek’, ‘Bondaweb’ and pelmet ‘Vilene’, all of which can be stitched into to create a truly original effect.