Jewel Bird series
Black-headed Oriole, Based on a watercolour by Sheik Zayn al-Din c.1780
I began working on my fabric collages as a way of using up the pieces of printed material I was amassing from my South African textile business. I had some wonderful sample hangers containing many sections of fabrics that I didn’t want to go to waste. The colourful cotton base cloths were silk screen printed with stunning contemporary designs. I also have a hoard of delicious damasks, brocades, jacquards and satins, collected over the years, which are perfect for the Old Ways & New Ways series.
Having studied art history for my degree, I am usually drawn to historical subjects as sources of inspiration. I start by sketching out the scene to size in simple line drawings and then use that to select and trace the main blocks of colour. I choose fabrics that are most suggestive of the texture and patterns I want to convey. I use machine embroidery to mark in the detail and bring the scenes to life.
Blue Magpie, Based on an anonymous watercolour c. 1822-29
Hanging Parrots, Based on an anonymous watercolour c. 1822-29
Black-headed Oriole
Based on a watercolour by Sheik Zayn al-Din
c.1780
 
Hanging Parrots
Based on an anonymous watercolour
from c. 1822-29
 
Blue Magpie
Based on an anonymous watercolour
from c. 1822-29
 
Available as:
pack of 6 greetings cards
giclée art print
 
 
Hooded Parrots
Based on a watercolour by Ferdinand Lucas Bauer
c.1801-05
 
Available as:
 
single greetings cards
canvas print
 
Oriental pheasant
Based on Impeyan Monal from ‘Rare Birds of China’ by James Fenwick Lansdowne
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