From her studio on the borders of the Wye valley and Forest of Dean, Eileen has naturally spent many years being influenced by the natural world around her. The shadows, reflections, colours and patterns in both the natural and man made environment are the source of all her inspiration.
A LASTING JOURNEY
Using the many techniques gained from a City and Guilds course in surface design and embroidery, followed by a masterclass group run by Lyn Griffiths( a felt maker and tutor at Gloscat,) who influenced her with experiments in natural dyeing and altered books using mixed media techniques, and her own further explorations of her craft, Eileen dyes and prints on fabric and paper using both natural and synthetic methods. Plants, rust and tea feature heavily in her work with the additional use of recycled packaging and papers to print with and also fabrics and lace to give texture. these papers and found objects are also used to layer and stitch. With these techniques Eileen also makes altered books, journals and sketch books.
Where I am now
"It took me a long time to work out that it was Ok to mix media and I did not need to stick to one technique but could mix them up and experiment, I have tried to find a box to fit myself into, but am much happier now that I have decided to live outside the box."
Eileen makes art quilts, using a deconstructed technique that uses the minimum of stitching, with torn edges and visible seams. This references quilts by using two or three layers of fabric, pieced and stitched together, a long way from traditional quilts, but a technique that lets the colours and shapes in the dyed fabric to influence the final piece without being confined to a traditional pattern.
Each piece of work, whether it is a quilt, picture, card, postcard or book is unique. The techniques used can be random and although a theme or colour scheme may repeat, no two pieces of work will ever be the same.