Rykadesign

My interest lies in the manipulation of fibres and textiles as an expressive art form, though tapestry and tufting. I studied Art with Constructed Textiles at the Duncan Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee and a postgraduate degree in Art Management. My early career focussed on design promotion, event management and marketing. In 2020 I set up my textile studio in Wimbledon. I design and create highly textural, colourful, abstract wall hangings, rugs and mirrors. I am inspired by my personal experiences of wild & rural landscapes, the seasons, travel, reading and Scottish mythology. I develop my ideas through sketching, lino printing and photography and realise the ideas using weaving, textile constructing and tufting. I love exploring colour contrasts, textured relief surfaces and the physicality of working with fibre, yarn, cloth, and wood which help shape my ideas. My training as a textile designer forms the basis of how I develop ideas and compositions. My first love is tapestry, but I enjoy the speed of the tufting gun. I have participated in local Open Studio events and sell directly to customers via my website and have undertaken commissions. Using an air pressured tufting gun, I liken the process to painting with wool. My work has a low environmental impact as I use quality Axminster wool surpluses from a UK yarn supplier. ..Read Less