Clare Lewis

I am a handweaver working from my home near Fordingbridge, a small town on the borders of Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset. We are lucky enough to have The New Forest National Park on our doorstep, a unique landscape of open heathlands and ancient forests. 
My colour palette is influenced by my surroundings. The colours of the forest change quite radically with the seasons and this is reflected in my work. Recently I have been using the rich earthy hues of the forest enclosures; peaty browns, charcoal greys and burnt orange.
I studied woven textile design at Central St Martins and later studied for an MA in Textiles at UCA Farnham. Since graduating I have continued to develop my practice and at the same time I like to use my practical skills and experience by teaching in schools and running workshops. I gain a lot of satisfaction from sharing my passion and respect for the raw material, particularly wool. I love to roll out a freshly sheared fleece in front of a class of 15 year olds and witness their surprise and awe.
I use all natural fibres including wool, linen and some cotton. Wherever possible I source UK produced materials or 'end of line' yarns. Each piece is designed on a sampling loom where I explore combinations of colour, texture and structure before setting up a warp on the heavy-duty rug loom. My main focus is on quality. I want my pieces to stand the test of time and to be suitable for 'the everyday'. 
My latest rugs are woven with recycled cloth; a traditional technique that has been around for generations. Cloth would have once been a valuable commodity; unlike in today's throw away society, clothing and household textiles were repaired again and again before eventually being cut in to strips and woven in to a useful rug. 

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Zoë Slattery