Hi I am Rachel. I am a textile poet. I create visual expressions of my poetry.
Inspiration comes from the sea, nature, interdependence within the world, fairy/folk tales myths legends and family life. I use the flotsam and jetsam washed up on the beaches or lost and found items including textiles to create mixed media at quilts and rope art.
For the past 3 years I have been fascinated by European Eels which are a critically endangered incredible species. At the beginning of lockdown i heard a podcast by Steve Martin about the Prince Lindworm Danish fairytale and the hook for me was the 12 dresses created by the poor bride to be, which resonated with the 12 weeks(then!) of shielding so I spent those first 12 weeks making dresses and clothes out of ghost net. The fairytale has lots in it including rewilding the soul and more and In my retelling the Prince just wanted to be an Eel and his bride a fisher girl. I have since then produced a children’s book Eirian the Eel using my artwork and my poetry based on the lifecycle of the eel.
I work mainly with found and recycled materials. Myths legends and fairytales are all intertwined in the work that I do.
This time at the Maker Space is such a wonderful opportunity on many levels.
I have space to create!! I mean real space!!”