Tell me a bit about yourself and your background
Well I’m in my early 40’s and live with my husband and daughter in a village near Huddersfield. We have a little house, a big garden where we grow flowers and veg and a lovely view out to trees and fields. I grew up around here and moved back over 12 years ago after living away. I studied fine art at university, which is where I met my husband. It took a while to come back around to making art, I started my business in 2009 and haven’t looked back. I’ve always been someone who enjoys the outdoors, I was dragged up mountains as a kid and feel most at home surrounded by big hills and damp weather. When I’m not designing or working on my business I like to get out for walks and do a bit of birdwatching, I’ve also been teaching myself to sew which I love as it’s so absorbing. And most recently I’ve returned to climbing after 20 years which I’m very excited about.
How did you get into art?
I didn’t really ‘get into art’ because it was always there in our house. My mum and dad were both interested in art and design, my mum went to art school and my dad was an architect so there was never a shortage of pictures, books and magazines, but more importantly, plentiful supplies of pencils and large sheets of paper. I’ve carried this on with my own daughter - making sure she has easy access to lots of materials, it seems to be working as she loves drawing. I’m very grateful to have been encouraged to pursue a creative career, I never would have envisaged that I’d have my own business one day.
How would you describe your artwork?
Sometimes I try to make messy art but it never turns out that way. I think I have quite a strong aesthetic which leans towards a clean graphic style, composition and colour are very important. I do however pull in surfaces, textures and patterns with the materials I collage together. Collage and paper cutting are the roots of my designs and the use of vintage maps has created the distinctive style people know me for.
Where does your inspiration come from?
All sorts of things filter into my mind both consciously and subconsciously, anything from the light and shadows in a landscape, the colour of a leaf, the shape of a tree or plant but also the outlines of buildings and the layers within a particular vista. I’m most drawn to the strong silhouettes of our native species and these are often the starting point for an idea. Birds are my first love, what I love about birds is their visibility and accessibility but also conversely, their allusiveness. Anyone can start birdwatching, it’s a great way to connect with outdoor spaces and they are an important indicator of the health of these environments.
How do you create your art?
A combination of papercutting, printmaking and digital processes - I also love to create repeating patterns and banks of handmade materials that I can incorporate into my work.
What’s a typical day like for you?
I bet every creative says this, but there isn’t a typical day. I have a young child so the day usually starts early and a bit rushed. I do the school run and then go straight to the studio in Huddersfield. I design a lot for independent shops and galleries so on a dispatch week I’m packing orders. Exciting days are spent working on new collections or pattern designs. I also do a lot of bespoke prints for people through my website and I enjoy making these special prints for my customers. It's been great to have that direct connection with people since I opened my online shop in 2020. Earlier this year I moved things around, I now have my computer on a high desk so I stand instead of sit and I feel so much better for it. I do make sure I take a break to sit down and eat my lunch though and listen to a well-known R4 soap, I won’t say the name because I’ll lose my street cred. It’s the only routine I have in the day and distracts me from everything for half an hour so I’ll stick with it.
What do you love most about what you do?
Working for yourself and by yourself certainly has its challenges but sometimes I pinch myself at how lucky I am to have a creative space in which I’m free to make whatever I want and share it with other people. I get to visually communicate what I love, what I care about and hopefully in turn, encourage others to care more about too. Oh, and I can dance badly around the studio to loud music and listen to strange podcasts.
What are you currently working on?
I have just received some Riso prints which have taken a long time to design and figure out. It’s a completely new process for me so it was refreshing to discover what I can do with this method of printing which uses layers of colours and different opacities. I’m very pleased with how they have come out, they are called ‘An Ever Changing View’ and are inspired by the view from Anglesey over to the mountains of Snowdonia. They are available to buy through my website.
Where can we find you and your work?
I’m so pleased to still be working with some retailers who have been with me from the very start, places like Nora’s in Ilkley, Hawksbys in Haworth, Mostyn in Llandudno and the Millennium Galleries in Sheffield. I also sell through a number of the National Park shops and many other shops and galleries around the country. There is a full list on my website and of course, you can also shop directly with me through the website too.
What are your thoughts on the Yorkshire Art Scene?
My village is only 20 minutes away from the Hepworth Wakefield and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, a place I have been going to for as long as I can remember and it’s where we got married so it’s very special, my daughter loves going there now so it’s a regular outing. These places have gained such a great reputation nationally that they have made this area a destination for people wanting to see art, especially sculpture. On a more local level, the area in which I live is FULL of artists and makers, it blows me away sometimes how many there are of us and it is a really supportive community. There’s always something to go and see and we’re also brilliantly positioned to visit the galleries of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield, something I want to do more of in 2023.
Tell us about a hidden gem in Huddersfield?
I think the best thing for me about living in this area is the number of footpaths we have and beautiful walks in different types of landscapes. I could probably do a different walk every day of my life and still not have exhausted all the possibilities. One of my favourite walks is around Holme Styes reservoir, particularly the hidden Beech forest and especially in autumn after rain, the contrast of the damp black trunks against the orange leaves is pretty magical.
Advice you’d give your younger self
Compare yourself less, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and I’d remind myself that something good and unexpected can usually come out of a seemingly bad situation. Look around you, ask questions, and extend your thinking. Speak up! Advice I am telling myself as an adult.
Hopes and plans for 2024
I’m doing my first trade show in the spring so I have lots of prep to do for that, including new photography and brochures. I’m hoping to start work on a portfolio of pattern designs and I’d love to work on some more Riso prints. I’m also going to create some card-making kits for adults. As I said earlier I plan to get out of the studio to see more exhibitions for inspiration. On a personal level, I want to do lots more climbing and hopefully a bit more birdwatching too.
