I have been a professional silk painter for 20 years. Always interested in pattern I first tried painting on silk while studying surface pattern design and textiles. I was immediately hooked by the endless design possibilities the medium offered.
In my silk paintings, I use the traditional gutta resist technique; this is where the design is outlined on pure silk with a resist medium, before painting. The combination of the translucent fabric and the vibrant colours creates unique images.
Silk painting is a passion and I want to share this. An experienced tutor in silk painting with 15 years teaching experience, I offer workshops for all levels of experience at my studio in Buxton, Derbyshire.
If you visit the Peak District, I hope you will take the opportunity to see my work - it's available all year round at several venues including Gallery in the Gardens, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton and the Macclesfield Silk Museum. I also welcome studio visits by appointment. If you can't make it, don't worry, I put all my new work in the Gallery pages and the online shop is regularly updated and I aim to deliver any orders within 3 working days.
As a professional artist and silk painter I belong to several organisations:
I am also a Craft & Design Selected Maker (currently on Out and About page)
Flowers
Whilst I enjoy painting many different subjects, flowers are my favourites. I find they are ideal subjects for the brilliant, luminous colours of the dyes. For example, poppies are much more vibrant when painted in their full glory on silk.
Landscapes and Buildings
The scenery of the Peak District is a constant inspiration reflected in this series of paintings. I enjoy painting iconic buildings like the Buxton Opera House and Liverpool’s Liver Building.
Seaside
This series of paintings all feature an oversized seagull – Big Bird. They are quirky with a hint of nostalgia and relate to many enjoyable family holidays at the English seaside.
If you like my work and would like more information please contact me here
Method
My method involves firstly, stretching the silk and pinning it onto a wooden frame; then I use the 'resist' method of silk painting - this simply means creating a barrier or resist which blocks the fibres of the silk and contains the spread of the paint. I use clear, black and metallic resists these are known as gutta or outliner.
Sometimes I use the resist to 'draw' my design onto the silk and sometimes I apply it as a decoration after painting. I use silk paints or silk dyes in my work depending on the subject matter. Painting is done in layers, building them up to achieve the depth of colour I require. If I am using silk paints, I complete the painting and then fix it by ironing. If I am using silk dyes, I fix the painting by steaming.