I've been putting stitched birds in my landscape pieces for years, but this is the first time I've made one the subject. It had to be this cheeky robin who often joins me for coffee and cake crumbs at a local café. My first work of 2022, 10 inch square, framed, £80.
This is a scaled-down version of my wall hanging "Magic Heart Tree two", which is in turn based on "Magic Heart Tree", acrylic on canvas! I love the mad colours in this, so different from my more realistic work. It makes me smile when I see it. 10 inch square, framed, £80.
I have stitched several poppies over the years - this is the 2021 edition. Scarlet silk, with black and yellow cotton, on a trellis background with machine stitched daisies and buttercups. 10 inch square, framed, £80.
This small picture is based on a thistle that I found growing in a field of barley. The background fabric is quilted with a design based on a barley awn motif. Stitched cotton, framed, 8 x 10 inches.
For my day job I work in a library, in a 150 year old building. It was built in the Scottish Baronial style and has many gothic features, including lovely stained-glass roundels featuring eminent men of learning. We also have a library mascot, the popular Cupar Chameleon. During our (sadly curtailed) 150th anniversary year in 2020, I designed a new window starring our green, lizardy friend. Here it is in my medium, stitched textiles. Stitched cottons and silks, 13 inches diameter
Number three in the Views from Home series, this cotton, silk and sheer piece is a bit different from my usual work. It has a very limited colour palate of blue and white fabric and the detail is all in the pylons themselves. I wanted an Impressionist feel to this piece and am pleased with the result, although I do like more colour. 23 x 19 inches
My last piece "Winter" was very detailed and intricate. This one was far more playful, with the colours taking centre stage. I'm still using scraps of silks that I first acquired over 20 years ago - they are perfect for stained-glass patchwork. The silks are free-machined to give texture and stability, the black strips are straight machine stitched. Each colour square is 5x5 inches and the whole piece measures 10x30 inches. £200
The second "Views from Home" piece, this magical frozen landscape is made from stitched cotton, silk and sheer fabrics. The Birnie Loch swan is present, see the Lockdown Art page for more details.
This is the first in a new Lockdown series - "Views from Home". You can find out more about it in the Lockdown Art page. £300
The second in the "Travel without leaving home" series, this silk and cotton wall hanging is based on a stained glass panel in the Kosciuszko Street subway station, Brooklyn, New York. 18 x 19 inches, unframed
"Travel without leaving home" piece three, this highly detailed and intricate wall hanging is inspired by the Morning Star II installation in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens. 22 inches square, unframed