Helen Crawford
Artwork for Helen Crawford
Details
How would you describe the work you do and why?
My inspiration comes from walking and drawing in favourite places, including the woodlands and open landscapes of the Malvern Hills, the Brecon Beacons and wild coastlines of Cornwall and Scotland., in addition to poetry by Edward Thomas, Robert Frost and Robert MacFarlane, and North Uist poet Pauline Prior-Pitt as well as Shakespeare's plays. I fill sketchbooks with mixed media drawings, recording my impressions of the colours and textures and seasonal and atmospheric changes around me.. From these wonderful reminders I compose textile landscapes and seascapes, using silk paper or painted felt backgrounds, depending on the mood of the piece, with the addition of a rich palette of hand dyed silk fibres, machine embroidery and collage. I also enjoy painting with a range of water based media, including watercolours, acrylics and mixed media on paper.
For you what does being an artist mean?:
My art practice enables me to express my feelings and ideas about the special landscapes I love, in paint, stitch, fabrics and paper, and sharing these with others.
Describe what you call yourself/your practice?:
Helen Crawford Textiles and Mixed Media
CV & Education, relevant & leading to your artistic practice:
1965-1969 B. Ed English and Fine Art with Textiles
1981-1985 City and Guilds Embroidery Parts 1 and 2 (Distinctions) at Malvern Hills College of Art
2001-2003 HNC Stitched Textiles (Distinction) at Glos CAT
Exhibitions in the last 3 years:
2023 Far Open Summer Exhibition, Dean Heritage Centre
Far Open Art Trail Open Studios
When we Were Very Young, Weavers Gallery Ledbury,
h.Art Week Open Studios
2024 Far Open Spring Exhibition, Canwood Gallery
Far Open Art Trail Open Studios
Weavers Gallery, A Female Perspective
h.Art Week Open Studios
Far Open Autumn Exhibition, The George, Newnham
Aetheria Gallery Opening Exhibition
2025 Oriel Cric Open Competition, Crickhowell
Threads, Found Gallery Brecon
Stitch by Stitch, Willow Gallery, Oswestry
Journeys, Weavers Gallery,
h.Art Week Open Studios
Your gallery outlets/stockists:
Aetheria Gallery, Great Malvern