I started typing this a while ago and I'm only getting round to posting this now, it's just a detailed review of how I've got to where I am today. I often have people asking in regards to the below, but it's such a long story because I've studied in various places so I decided to put it out there so you can read it for yourselves.
So what you do know is that I am a Textile Designer who specialises in Woven and Mixed Media Textiles.
I spent the bulk of my twenties away at college,finishing up aged 27, in 2007..
I always knew that I was going to be an artist or a designer, I've always been artistic and I love Art, it was like my other subjects didn't exist at school, I knew what I wanted to do and nothing was going to change my mind. If I hadn't of chosen art I would have gone down the Drama/Film or Music road.
After the big LC in 1998, I went and did a 1 year Craft Course at Grennan Mill Craft School, which is in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. I chose here after first hearing about it from an old art teacher Miss Molloy, while I was at boarding school and then again by a Mr.Carter whom I had as my art teacher in Transition year when I switched to the community school in Gorey. They both had recommended here and I think that it's hard at 18 years old trying to choose what college you want to spend your next 3/4 years at and that determines the rest of your life , so I went along with Grennan Mill and I'm so glad now that I went there. It was a really great experience and I loved it here. The college is set in an old mill by the river nore and the scenery around the area and thomastown itself is a little gem.
My home from home was The Bridgebrook Arms with Mrs O'Reilly where I lived with seven equestrian students, let's just say I came away knowing more about horses then I ever did before. It was at Grennan Mill that I first got introduced to Weaving. My tutor at the time was a lady called Lorna Donlon, (I think that's her surname anyway?!) ... I remember I used to have Weaving every Tuesday, Ceramics was on a Monday, Drawing on a Wednesday, Textile Printing on Thursdays and Metalwork on Fridays. That's going back a long time now!
Yes so, back to weaving...honestly I dreaded Tuesday's and did not enjoy weaving that much...who knew that a few years later I would change my mind!
After Grennan Mill, that summer of 1999, I did the Jewellery/Silversmith skills course with the Crafts Council at their headquarters in Kilkenny near the castle. It was taught by an American lady called Jane I think her surname was Hewson, who I remember as being so nice and the reason why I did this, was because my favourite craft was metalwork and I had made a few pieces of jewellery while at Grennan Mill. And back then I really wanted to do Jewellery and I had considered going for the two year jewellery skills course where back then they took on 12 students, but I had heard that it was very difficult to get on to. Honestly, from my experience of the summer course you need a very well trained eye and still being a bit young at the time I really wanted to go to college to study art and design with the thoughts of maybe one day returning to this. They do still run this course at Kilkenny...so who knows?!
After leaving Kilkenny, the following year I did a Post Leaving Certificate Course in Art & Design (Portfolio Year) from 99-2000 at Gorey Community School with Mr.Eamon Carter.
From here, I went on to study at Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology at the Cluain Mhuire Campus where I did my Diploma in Art & Design finishing in 2003, specialising in Mixed Media Textiles. I loved Galway and made some amazing friendships here.
It was between Textiles and Painting, which was my second choice that I wanted to study in years 2 and 3. I got Textiles and again weaving was not my strongest area, I did like print but so I chose Mixed Media/Embroidery. My end of year show in year three was a series of 8 muted coloured works based on the seashore that combined manipulated fabrics, stitch and tufting each piece all very different to the next and sold out all eight including a few mounted studies from my portfolio.
At 24, I ended up at University College Falmouth which is in Cornwall, South West England. It was October of 2003.
I did not want to go to London or be in a city environment and had heard about Falmouth and I loved that it was a coastal location, by the sea, small town but with this amazing college on it's doorstep.
I applied, they were still accepting late applicants and I had a choice of year one or year two, I choose year one. It was a three year degree which meant another three years but I did not mind that. I did not have to travel for an Interview,as my CD I had sent with my work for them to view thinking I'd be called for a Interview guaranteed my place.
It was a bit daunting leaving home behind, knowing that I would not be able to get the bus home at the weekend...more like travelling by air! There was one other Irish student on the same course.
Again the choice was Mixed Media/Embroidery, Print or Weave.
I started with Mixed Media, but god knows if I got a knock on the head or what but I fell in love with Weaving.
I think a lot can be said also for the tutor, I had an excellent Tutor her name was Sally-Ann Gill. Later when Sally went on maternity leave I had a tutor called Makeba Lewis and also Ismini Samanidou all were trained in Textiles at the Royal College of Art and Ismini taught me Jacquard weaving.
I somehow really ended up loving weaving, I love pattern and texture so I think it was the right choice for me. I did bounce between the two for a while but later had to just choose one so I went with Weave. Although I still used elements of Mixed Media in Weaving....there was no escaping it! There is still no escaping it and I still love both.
For my degree show in June 2006, I had four natural silk, linen and wool cream woven lengths focusing on woven textures with woven in crystal beads and sheer ribbons.
I also studied a Master of Arts at Falmouth between September 2006 to September 2007.
Here I focused on developing my skills in Woven Textiles and Jacquard weaving.
I designed, made and covered a chair, also some cushions, a few woven lengths and a table runner Idea for my end of year show. I was really Interested in objects that could turn into other objects in furnishings. I was only home for a maximum of three weeks throughout that year, that was hard but again you just get used to it.
I do miss Jacquard weaving, I don't have the use of a Jacquard loom now but I do own a loom, it's a small table/floor loom it has legs. I was used to using Louet Megado Floor Looms at Falmouth and will one day own one as they cost quite a bit! A Jacquard loom would set you back even more, loads more in fact! I think I'd have to look down other avenues there if I needed to do Jacquard in the future.
In my work I really love to use ribbons, feathers, beads and embellishments of any sort and I especially love Trimmings. I hate checks, chunky yarns, black and monochrome. I don't use the colour black and never have except for a frame.
I love neutrals/calm colours and Brights. My favourite colour is blue....all shades of blue especially turquoise. Closely followed by Purple, Navy or Peacock Green.
I'm inspired by the Sea, it's been a recurring theme with me since I left School, there are just endless possibilities with the theme. I also love Nature and capturing up- close marks and patterns whether it's on rocks, trees, butterfly wings with my camera. I'm also a huge fan and have a love for photography. I work a lot from my own photographs and drawings that I make into designs for my work and I love Colour.
I love mixed media textiles as it gives me freedom to explore various techniques and I love manipulating fibres and also interested in sculpted works. I think there is a little bit of everything in me to be quite honest because I love all Craft. I always had imagined myself of becoming a potter but that didn't happen. I love what I do and don't think I'll be breaking away from Textiles any time soon.
My textiles have moved on very much since leaving college. In 2007, I moved back to Ireland. And in 2012 decided to make a go of it on my own.
I'm not your traditional hand weaver, so if you come knocking on my door for checks or aran tweeds... don't!
I do admire traditional hand weaving, techniques and patterns but my work is more contemporary. I think I see myself more as a textile artist to that of a designer or perhaps I'm both.
I'm a sucker for detail and always have been, I see things others don't notice sometimes and I put a lot of time and dedication into my work, no mater what it is.
I love the balance between weaving and my mixed media textile artwork, I believe it's good to have variety and the two often work well together, depending on the work.
I have done many exhibitions along the way from end of year college shows, group shows, craft fairs and so on and continue to do so.
I don't think I'd ever tire of doing what I do, not for quite some time anyway.
Any form of Art/Design is not an easy career, but if you really believe in something no matter what it is, go for it! Just work hard and aim high. There are always going to be people/students coming up behind you, trying to re-create what you do and also admire and follow your work. But I just try to remain a step ahead and just keep going. To date, so far so good, anyway! :)
