Artist Statement

My work aims to provide positive and uplifting experiences through creating textile installations. I communicate delicate, embroidered, inspirational messages, such as positive affirmations, and stories of happy memories. This is never conducted in a vacuum. My work is most often participatory, inviting the public to participate in connection-building recreations of everyday or significant objects. Bold and bright colours and patterns have become my signature aesthetic which always has a recognisably handmade feel. Providing a tactile surface is also important, using embroidered, mark making techniques and embellishment work.

The Cosy Communi-Tea

Exhibited here are digital photographs of a handmade tea cosy, using textiles and appliqué, embroidered teabags. This was inspired by local, independent specialist tea and coffee business, Cortile Coffee, who are based in the Pontypridd Market Quarter.



This patchwork tea cosy has been created from a variety of teabags. This ranges from your typical builder’s brew to flavoured and herbal teas. PG tips and Yorkshire tea give the tea cosy a homely scent with a variety of brown tones depending on the strength. The more flavoured, herbal and sweet, summer’s day scented teas, like lemon and berries, stain the teabags in colours such as yellows, pinks and purples. Each teabag communicates people’s tea moments and tea memories, which have been delicately embroidered onto the surface of the teabag using colourful threads. The tea cosy has a vintage and homemade feel, as though it has been passed down from one generation to another, imprinted with the trace of each tea moment shared or savoured.

A selection of the public’s tea moments and tea memories featured on the tea cosy can be listened to aloud via the audio recording provided, along with a plain text transcript.