Studio

 Having originally trained in Fashion and Textiles and Embroidery ,  at Medway College of Design in the 70s doing A'levels and City and Guilds I then moved on to Bretton Hall in West Yorkshire, now the  Yorkshire Sculpture Park.  Three special, amazing, creative years training to teach textiles with a subsidiary course in ceramics and art. After having taught for about 10 years, I needed to become my own artist again, so had a spell doing private dressmaking, along side taking local adult education courses in Spinning and Weaving. From then on I was hooked!! 

I have always admired traditional crafts, doing quite a bit of research during my A Levels. Now living in the Mid Kent Downs, my rural surroundings are a stong influence on my work, taking a mixed media approach, mixing soft textiles with the harder materials. I am now enjoying the time to rekindle my creativity with a more experimental, 3-Dimensional woven approach, combining my textile world with metal, wood, ceramics and stone. Following the process through from raw materials to a finished piece, spinning, natural dyeing and weaving which is important to me. Throughout 2025 ,I have concentrated more of my time spinning, having now acquired a double treadle for my wheel...so much easier on the ankles!!  I am now  producing a varied selection of thicknesses of yarn, working from both washed and unwashed fleece, I must say I still prefer to use unwashed fleece, and am currently experimenting producing very thick chunky rug style yarns,hopefully to be naturally dyed this summer.  . My washed fleece does however seem to produce a smoother yarn, which I must say has not always been my main aim. If using unwashed fleece,regular hand washing is a must.

Learning the basics of Spinning and  weaving, many years ago, and being self taught since then I have enjoyed the  rugged textural finish of the fibre,within my weavings which is still true, but am now trying to look at the more technical sides of  the craft, taking part in a weaving course at Creek Creative studios and Art Gallery in Faversham this spring 2026.It is fascinating as the little grey cells come back into play, at the same time learning the tips and tricks that  I missed while being self taught!! 

This year I am looking to get back into teaching mode and will be offering "basic spinning" and "creative weaving" taster sessions. If you are interested ,then please do get in touch.

Growing Flax and going through the whole process is a fascinating project, that I have been working on over the last two or three years, by taking part in a growingslowtextiles  programme .I again grew my own Flax crop in 2025 and it is now being stored, waiting for processing into fibres so that it can be spun.

Upcoming Exhibitions 2026

JUNE 5TH,6TH & 7TH; 12TH,13TH & 14TH; 19TH,20TH &21ST.... Sandhurst Farm Forge Collective is again opening for "South East Open Studios" 10 am -6pm  with demonstrations each day.

JULY11TH...Sandhurst Farm Forge Collective is taking part in the Folkandbespoke Event at the Alexander Centre , 15-17 Preston Street ,Faversham,ME13 8NZ  10am -3pm.

NOVEMBER 13TH 4.30-7.00pm SATURDAY 14TH & SUNDAY 15TH 10am-4pm. "Hand Made Mid Winter Market 2026"  Tithe Barn ,Court Lodge ,Lenham,Kent ME17 2QD.