Come to the Great Northern Textile show to see three solo exhibitions by artists Wendy Roby, Jane Smith and Sheila Haldane. Each textile artist have their own specialism, we have applique, embroidery and textile printing and manipulation. Find out more about the artists below and come and see their work on display at the event, where each artist work will be for sale.
Wendy Roby
Wendy Roby is a visual artist working in print, text and textiles from Stockport. Growing up in a new town surrounded by the stark forms of modernism their work aims to achieve the same simplicity of form and technique. In their work you will find that they enjoy playing with scale in both print and embroidery work which is starting to include more explicit, written protest.
Roby’s current practice is focused on three things. First; developing the inclusion of protest text (and seeing how ‘hot takes’ change when they are produced using deliberately laborious methods, like hand embroidery). Secondly; developing impactful, environmentally-conscious and lo-fi printmaking processes that are accessible to anyone. Thirdly, exploring the sculptural possibilities of textiles (in particular wool) using paint, cutwork and manipulation.
Jane Smith
Jane Smith aims to create a thing of beauty in their work which brings joy in its creation in hope that others in observing the work will reciprocate these feelings. Smith quotes Claude Monet, “Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.” in relation to the love they feel for their own works of embroidery, from the creation of a design, to the silk threads and fabric, to the meditative joy of placing each stitch, to the enjoyment of living with a piece after it has been completed.
Smith works entirely by hand using traditional Japanese embroidery techniques which require an extraordinary level of technical skill, each piece of work takes many hours to complete. The work is created using pure silk thread and kimono or obi silk. The unusual flat silk thread gives a characteristic sheen that only occurs with this type of thread.
Their work is inspired by a number of sources, antique kimono, Japanese prints and, more recently they have been developing work which include both Japanese and western motifs. While Smith’s work may not have a political or social message each piece does contain a story or idea behind the image.
Sheila Haldane
Sheila grew up knowing her way around a sewing machine and dabbled in a variety of crafts. Once she had retired she began to indulge in making again.
It was 2020, so it was only after the rally-call to sew NHS scrubs and face masks that she was able to settle into sewing. Sheila started making drawstring bags and sourced colourful satins, textured silks and crinkly taffeta. Her hoard of glorious off-cuts just kept growing, until she realised their potential.
With a nod towards traditional embroidery and appliqué, and with a key focus on using spent materials, Sheila created imagined landscapes. She layers fabrics in a (mostly) linear fashion, sometimes randomly, sometimes with a plan and, on occasion based on an image. Sheila then hand and machine stitches to secure the fabric, then embroider to encourage flow pattern and texture, blend and add definition.
She is now beginning to refine aspects of her methods and develop her own style, but still loves to experiment and will probably never stop learning.
