A collection of work inspired by land, sea, and sky. I walk the landscape close to home, responding to inspiration in a series of sketchbooks which in turn feed the making of pieces of artwork. The elements in the landscape that I see frequently on these walks have become embedded in my imagination, spilling out when I find time to be creative.
I also have a deep love of the sea, who doesn't, I was commissioned by Search Press to produce a book, 'Stitched Textiles: Seascapes', this was published in the autumn of 2019. Several pieces made for this publication feature in this exhibition, the sketchbooks which inspired this work sustained me through lockdown as I worked on 'Imagined seascapes' from my summerhouse studio in land locked Oxfordshire.
Amanda has an enthusiasm for colour and texture. A degree in Woven Textiles with painting developed an intuitive understanding and response to the tactile nature of textile materials. She has developed a way of working which gives freedom beyond the restraints of woven fabric, using threads to draw images and integrate texture into the surface of fabric and paper; through exploration she found a way to combine the drawn and painted mark with the tactile qualities of thread and cloth. Amanda captures the essence of the landscape and natural forms which influence her work. Through drawing she records a sense of the moment, capturing fleeting fragments of land sea sky and trees, observed, and absorbed as she walks, looking at the familiar, seeing the extraordinary, responding to the subtle changes of view in the rhythmic motion of walking. She explores the evocative moods of seasonal change and atmospheric qualities of light and changing weather. The scale of her work ranges from large individual hangings to small wall mounted panels and framed textile artworks. Amanda welcomes invitations to give talks and workshops.
Amanda exhibits work with Prism textile group and venues in Oxfordshire with Oxfordshire Craft Guild. An established tutor with more than 30 years’ experience in teaching, delivering relaxed creative workshops. Her book Stitched Textiles: Seascapes published by Search Press in 2019 details her working practice and deep love of the sea.