Artist's Statement: Influences and Inspirations

My work is inspired by many things, but particularly my fascination with wrought-iron railings, framework, grids and open structures such as leaf skeletons, cobwebs and lace. Photographs I have taken of architectural forms, scaffolding, cranes, ironwork on Georgian townhouses are often used as a starting point. Even a visit to the glasshouses at Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Gardens produced interesting ideas (see photograph below). I also looked at the collapsing framework of the old pier in Brighton for inspiration.

(C. McLaughlin 2005)

I explore the above themes with layering and graphic imaging, also experimenting with positive and negative spaces, colour, patterning, stitch, texture and different weights of fabric. I use various techniques to achieve different effects, for example hand and machine knitting, cutwork, perforation, needle-punching, embroidery and  felting.

I create handmade knitted accessories with felted lambswool and yarns I construct from found fabrics such as tulle, cotton, vintage lace and ribbons. I also like to use other fibres in my work, from natural (cashmere, cotton) to man-made (lurex, lycra/elastane, polyester).