Textile Artist Sarah

A passionate textile artists based in Bolton, hoping to share my tactile textile art with a

wider audience. After a 22-year career in the health service as a nurse, I decided to

pursue a creative practice and completed a 3-year degree in Textiles and Surface Design

at the University of Greater Manchester.

My work focuses on the tactile and sensory dimensions of textile art, inspired by the

intricate beauty and textures of nature, through hand and free-motion embroidery,

fabric manipulation and hot textiles. My degree course has been pivotal in shaping my

creative process, teaching me to develop ideas from conception to completion through

sampling, reflection, and experimentation. This knowledge has allowed me to approach

each project with a balance of technical skill and creative exploration.

Textile art, for me, is a medium of expressive art that is under appreciated in the art

world, textiles are part of our everyday life and as an art form should not just be viewed

but also explored and touched to be appreciated. I draw inspiration from how nature and

natural elements create contrasting textures of soft moss growing on stone walls to the

delicate structures of wild mushrooms growing on fallen tree trunks. These observations

become the foundation of my work, as I strive to capture the essence of nature’s textures

in every piece.

I have been inspired by artists such as Sue Hotchkis, Amanda Corbette and Susan Taylor

Brown, whose innovative approaches to textiles and abstraction have deepened my

appreciation for fabric and thread as expressive mediums. Their work motivates me to

explore unconventional techniques and materials, pushing traditional boundaries in

textile art.

My vision as an artist is to create pieces that foster a sensory and tactile dialogue with

people, encouraging them to slow down and engage with the subtle textures and details

of textile art. I believe art has the power to heighten our awareness of touch, texture,

and the natural world.

As I continue to evolve my practice, I am committed to expanding my creativity and

technical skills. My journey in textile art is one of ongoing exploration, learning, and

connection. I hope my work inspires others to appreciate the beauty in nature and the

versatility of textiles as an art form.