caroline nixon
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Caroline is a textile artist. She works with natural dyes and botanical contact printing ( ecoprinting), which is a contemporary adaptation of the ancient art of dyeing with plant based pigments. Using this technique she makes wearable art, books, wall art and home textiles, capturing the beauty of nature using the pigments and imprints of the leaves themselves – no synthetic ink, dyes or silk screens are involved. Hand and free machine stitch are used for embellishment, producing complex patterned cloth. The naturally occurring colours are soft and harmonious, and the process is non polluting and respectful of the environment. Despite the natural processes used, the textiles are colourfast and washable.
Her inspiration comes from nature itself, working with the foliage that is available as the seasons progress, and letting the shapes of the leaves determine her designs. The plants and dyes come from sustainable sources - many are grown in her own garden. The smallest change in plant species, climatic conditions or water source can produce marked variations in the prints, meaning every item is unique. A magical combination of art, science and serendipity. The textiles used are natural fibres, organically produced and ethically sourced wherever possible. Vintage textiles are also upcycled, giving them a new lease of life. Much of the linen and lace is sourced from French brocantes and local charity shops. The cooking pots used for processing are also recycled - copper preserving pans, cast iron laundry pots, aluminium cooking pots. The antithesis of today’s ‘throwaway’ society. Caroline trained as a doctor and worked as GP for 25 years. Retirement has given her the opportunity to pursue textile art. She has exhibited, taught and lectured both in the UK and internationally, and is passionate about promoting this magical and sustainable artform. Email: [email protected] Website: Handmadetextilesbycaroline.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caroline.nixon.547 Instagram: @handmadecaroline |