From a very early age (around 11yrs) I made my own clothes and occasionally tackled a little bit of embroidery, usually on a transfer print from ‘Woman’ magazine.

It wasn’t until I took the City and Guilds in Creative Embroidery at the London College of Fashion, that my eyes were opened to the much wider world of stitched textiles and mixed media.  Here I indulged in all kinds of new techniques discovering what appealed to me.

Life after City and Guilds carried on with joining the New Embroidery Group together with forming the Phoenix Contemporary Textile Group and also belonging to Textile Expressions.  These three groups have given me the impetus to carry on exploring, experimenting and creating work both for myself and for exhibitions.

I love landscapes and mountainous regions and having hiked extensively in the UK and the National Parks of SW America and discovered the Rock Art and artefacts of the people who once inhabited the canyons, I have a wealth of imagery upon which to draw for my work.

Photography is usually my starting point, then drawing from which to develop ideas for my work which ranges from felted hangings, experimental tapestry weaving, hand/machine stitching to beading and wire-work.  I often combine different techniques/media to create sculptural 3D pieces or as a textural base to stitch into.  At present I am taking a fabric printing and dyeing course at the Committed to Cloth studio which gives me the opportunity to create my own fabrics for stitching into.  To broaden my artistic skills I participate in a Master Design course led by John Allen.

I am a member of the International Feltmakers Association; a life member of the Embroiderers’ Guild and a member of the Kingston and District branch where I once held the post of Chairman.  I enjoy exhibiting my work which has found its way into private collections both here and abroad.  I take pleasure in giving talks and running workshops for various groups to pass on my love of the art of embroidery and the journeys I have made over the years.

Email:  cvwaddle@tiscali.co.uk

Website:  www.phoenixcontemporarytextiles.com