“Felicity: the ability to find appropriate expression for one’s thoughts“ collection is a contemporary novel into the inner workings of my mind when overwhelmed by emotions. The body of work is generated from painting and drawing exaggerated shapes taken from needlework and hand-weaving processes as a form to self-soothe. During this project, I explored the boundaries of combining different materials to represent the feelings I experience. Through laser cutting acrylics as a base to support the detailed mother-of-pearl shapes, I merge them together with neon threads, embellishments of silver and hand-woven wire objects to create a fusion of vivid, complex structures.

Through analysis of sources used in my DHT essay, I explored the history of needlework and its attachment to femininity. Throughout the essay, I questioned the reality of what needlework does for women, discovering that it is a tool to communicate and generate a space to think freely. It helps build relationships, bonding people through conversations
held within its space; it creates a place of safety and peace to figure out the ways of life. This is blended into the degree collection to celebrate the beauty of free thinking whilst trying to understand my emotions and identity within the 21st century.

Awards:

Fife Contemporary New Maker Award 2023

Richard H Arroll Memorial prize