Profile
Inspired by the natural world, especially birds, Joan aims to produce reminders of the essence of the bird or scene – rough sketches and “quirky” birds, rather than representational illustrations. Concerns about threats to
the environment have led Joan to explore specific threats to bird life.
Joan’s chief enjoyment is hand stitching, but this is combined with use of the embellisher and sewing machine. She uses materials for traditional goldwork in a freestyle manner, mixed with crewel work stitches and on a
variety of backgrounds. Experiments with dyes and paints for the backgrounds and with a variety of scales and fabric manipulation challenge her to extend the variety of her work.
Joan has sewn and embroidered since childhood, with her interest reactivated when she discovered creative embroidery in the 1980s. Initially a relaxing change from her demanding career as a chartered secretary,
textile art is now a major interest in a busy retirement.
Qualifications
1999-2004 … City & Guilds Creative Embroidery parts I and 2, Godalming/Guildford
1997-99 … Certificate course, Royal School of Needlework
Membership
Phoenix Contemporary Textile Group
Kingston Stitchers
Exhibitions
2017 … Bewitched Stitches, Kingston EG
2017 … Ramster Embroidery and Textile Art
2016 … Strata: a stitched excavation, PCTG,
2016 … Threads of Meaning, Wey Valley Workshop (WVW)
2015 … Ramster Embroidery and Textile Art2014, WSTA
2014 … Structure, Surface, Stitch, WVW
2013 … Meet the Sew-and-Sews, Kingston EG
2013 … Ramster Embroidery and Textile Art
2012 … Collections – Connections, WVW
2011 … Kingston – who do you think you are?, Kingston EG
2011 … Ramster Embroidery and Textile Art
2010 … Small but Perfectly Formed, WVW
2009 … 1509 and All That, Kingston EG
2008 … Stitches in Time, WVW
2007 … Ramster Embroidery and Textile Art
2006 … Stitched Textiles and Mixed Media, WVW
2005 … Ramster Embroidery and Textile Art
and exhibitions with the Cobham Art Group and the Kingston and District Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild.
Work sold and commissions
Work in private collections
Priest’s stoles
Contact
Email: eatonfarm@aol.com