“Colour is at the heart of my work”

Maria is an artist and tutor from Warwickshire obsessed with colour and texture. Work is inspired by ideas that are explored with colour using applied colour psychology, together with different materials, marks & textures. Lots of sampling and working in sketchbooks determines the best combination of elements.

Typically her textile art creates wall pieces using natural materials are used, such as noil silk, alpaca wool and linen threads. The background cloth is hand dyed and overdyed to achieve a specific rich colour. More colour is added from painting, direct dyeing, screen printing &/or mono printing. Finished pieces have a 3D quality from the addition of extra textures and details from appliqué, needle felting and stitch.

Printmaking is another love, using fine papers and specially mixed colours to create evocative prints; often using linocut and wood engraving, as well as silk screen and mono print.
More recently, Maria has worked in oils, especially with wax medium, enjoying the revelation of colour through the layers.

Past collections have obsessed over lichens and pears, dreams (and nightmares) in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, and the materials and symbols (leather, wool, wood & woad) of the pagan King Penda of Mercia. Currently work is focussed on developing an abstract language for landscapes.

Maria has a First Class degree in Design Crafts from De Montfort University and was awarded The Textile Study Group ‘Artist of the Year’ in 2014 and is an Embroiderers’ Guild Graduate. She is a member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen, Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, and The Embroiderers Guild.

Available for exhibitions, collaborations and commissions, Maria can also be booked for talks, courses and workshops. Also a very experienced colour consultant using applied colour psychology to support individuals, artists and businesses.