Material World
Based in Worcester, UK, Jane Arthur creates intrincate textile art inspired by the landscapes she's visited, from India to Antarctica. In this fast fashion world, she prefers hand stitching and reuse, preserving the cloth's original narrative while adding new layers, both literally and metaphorically. We spoke with Jane to learn more about her work.Why do you create?
I've always loved textiles - the feel of cloth, it's colours and textures - however what started my exploration of stitch and textile art was the simple running stitch. I learnt to quilt a long time ago, but the fascination of the light and shadow that a simple line of running stitch makes on a wholecloth quilt, has stayed with me ever since.
“Landscape is what resonates with me most; how you move through a landscape, decode its features...”
My journey into textile art really took off around 2010 when I was able to balance my time to be more creative, and it has expanded since then.
How and where do you work?
I have a studio at home (it was one of the reasons I moved to Worcester) and have had a studio space at Bevere Gallery, Worcester since November 2022. I'm usually there around 3 days a week working on various projects. I prefer to hand stitch, as it's the repetitive movement of the needle through fabric that I really enjoy. I dye and print my own fabric from old sheets, pillowcases, shirts etc as this gives me the soft colours I like to use. I also like to treat fabrics with gesso to give me a surface to draw and paint on, though it's then tough to stitch through!
I'm always mindful of the previous history of my fabric - so I'll leave an unpicked seam, buttons and button holes in place. Much of what I use has personal associations, such as ties from my brother or an old linen shirt that I've worn for 35 years!
Where do you get your inspiration?
Landscape is what resonates with me most; how you move through a landscape, decode its features, what makes a place special. Antarctica is a huge inspiration. I went there in 2002 and fell in love with this cold, but beautiful, place. I went again in 2020 just before covid engulfed the world and the colours keep cropping up in my work.
I'm always taking photographs and I keep an ever growing folder of images, from plants and trees to water and ice to landscapes, that I can use as a jumping off point for a piece of work. Stone circles and pre-historic landscapes are another inspiration. After a recent visit to Avebury stone circle I've been working on a series of pieces that interpret the site and surrounding landscape, imagining the connections with the past and the peoples who lived there.
“I prefer to hand stitch, as it's the repetitive movement of the needle through fabric that I really enjoy.”
What influences your work?
I keep up with contemporary practice in textile art, visiting exhibitions by the 62 Group and Prism, following artists like Cas Holmes and Karen Stamper. I've had a subscription to Crafts Magazine for over 30 years! My first loves in art were the Early Italian Renaissance and art movements in the early 20th century in Britain and Europe. I like to visit as many exhibitions as I can, as I love the feeling of seeing things differently when you emerge into the outside world!
Where do you sell your art?
I sell my work from my studio at Bevere Gallery and I've participated in Open Studios events in Worcestershire and Birmingham over the last few years. I belong to a number of textile groups that exhibit in Birmingham, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
I've had a solo show at Number 8 Pershore and group shows with the artists at Bevere and with Barbourne Artists. My work has been exhibited recently at Forge Mill Redditch, Nottingham Society of Artists, Nature in Art, Sixteen Gallery Cheltenham and at The Artery Worcester.
How do you promote yourself and your work?
I post on my Instagram and Facebook pages @JAtextileart and through the Midlands Textile Forum. I regularly give talks on my work, from taking a walk through a favourite location to the inspiration I've taken from Antarctica or stone circles. This year I'm expanding into providing a day workshop on how I work.
What are your future ambitions?
Of course I'd like to visit Antarctica again. I'm a trustee of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust looking after 6 heritage sites on the Antarctic Peninsula. I'd love to get to see some of these, particularly Port Lockroy (the Penguin Post Office) which I last visited in 2002. Of course I'd take textiles with me to work on while I'm there!
“There's something very positive in allowing yourself to play without any end result in mind...”
Aside from Antarctica I draw inspiration from many places I visit, so travelling is definitely on the cards. I'd like to explore other creative media and develop my ideas for using gesso treated fabric in different ways.
Do you have any advice for other artists?
Avoid the word 'just' as in "I'm just doing a bit of stitching", it's so undermining to yourself as an artist. Also, have fun! There's something very positive in allowing yourself to play without any end result in mind, you never know what might come out of it.
Many thanks to Jane Arthur for answering our questions. You can see more of Jane's fascinating textile art on her Instagram and Facebook pages.