Kate’s passion for fabric seems to have been around forever. Memories that go back to her father's theatre workshop which had a mezzanine level filled from floor to ceiling with folded fabric, and large bolts of calico and muslin standing in the corners.  Given the opportunity she would play in there for hours surrounded by rolls of ribbons and trims, tins and boxes of buttons and beads. Later, as an arts student, she combined textiles with ceramics, literally, by soaking textured fabric in slip and then firing it to make delicate vases and bowls.  Kate inherited her paternal grandmother’s fabric kist - Liberty lawn and Harris tweed pieces all carefully folded -  together with both grandmothers' hand cranked sewing machines on which she learned to machine sew.
Kate's textile pictures vary from being naïve in style, simple figures and animals that are quite charming, to atmospheric handmade felt pictures.

---

In the last 18months or so Kate has started to paint fabric before working into it with machine or handstitch detailling, and particularly enjoys turning her work into lampshades.
As Needlesmiths, Kate also shares her love of design, and fabrics by running creative textile skills workshops for adults and children.  You can find out more about them on her website: Needlesmiths.co.uk.  
​