about Joan
I am an embroidery mixed media artist and maker based in Reading, Berkshire. Born in the Potteries, Staffordshire, I was influenced by my creative parents, the pottery industry and the beautiful countryside only a short drive from my home. Sewing and making a variety of objects from a young age, she continued to enjoy this self- taught creative process throughout her adult life.
Moving to Reading opened up an opportunity in 1984 to study creative embroidery in Windsor which unlocked a creativity and after several years she graduated with a 1st Class Honours degree, Art in a Community context, from Roehampton University.
Excited by things that I see in everyday life, I am always looking at the minute details of texture, colour and patina of surfaces which never fail to ignite endless ideas. Fabric and thread are central to my work combined with paint, print and machine embroidery and a wide variety of techniques.
I am passionate about embroidery and transform ideas and images from sketchbooks into decorative work using a technique of layering fabrics, thread, paper, beads, lino print and dyes together with free machine embroidery and hand stitching, resulting in vibrant textured pieces of work.
Moving to Reading opened up an opportunity in 1984 to study creative embroidery in Windsor which unlocked a creativity and after several years she graduated with a 1st Class Honours degree, Art in a Community context, from Roehampton University.
Excited by things that I see in everyday life, I am always looking at the minute details of texture, colour and patina of surfaces which never fail to ignite endless ideas. Fabric and thread are central to my work combined with paint, print and machine embroidery and a wide variety of techniques.
I am passionate about embroidery and transform ideas and images from sketchbooks into decorative work using a technique of layering fabrics, thread, paper, beads, lino print and dyes together with free machine embroidery and hand stitching, resulting in vibrant textured pieces of work.