Artist introduction: Zoe Howarth

Here is the introduction to our fourth artist, Zoe Howarth

We asked Zoe to answer our questions, and to share some of her work with us, so you could find out a little more about her and her work...

How did you get into art? 

Ever since I was little I have always been creative. My nana taught me how to knit when I was very young and I learnt some basic lace making techniques when I was only 7 years old. I taught myself how to sew and growing up I would often make my own clothes and have even made costumes for my siblings’ Christmas plays as well as my step-mums wedding dress!  Being creative has always felt like a strange obsession, an addiction, I guess you would call it a great passion. I cannot help myself, I have a constant need to create and be creative.

Blue hand dyed silk

Where did you study?

I went to London College of Fashion to study for my art foundation which specialised in fashion and textiles. I then went on the complete my BA(Hons) Textile Design at Falmouth University in 2010 where I fell in love with weaving and the hand dyeing process.

Handwoven and dyed scarfs

What are your main inspirations in your work?

I am obsessed with the patterns and textures of the Cornish coastline and I love to capture these natural abstracts within my textile work. It is always the same details, a section of rock in the cliff face, the marks left in the sand by the moving tide or the peeling paint on a fishing boat.  The coastline gives me endless inspiration, with different weather or times of day it can transform the same stretch of coast. The colours, textures and compositions can all change so I am never quite sure what I will find.

Montage of Cornish coast

How did you get involved with Midsummer nights?

I got involved with Midsummer nights when I was in the Four Crows gallery in Porthleven where I stock some of my work.  I noticed their poster in the window calling for artists to take part in the ‘Cornish storms’ exhibition so I emailed them straight away and then got stuck into this exciting project!

Pink shibori silk

How do you wait out a storm?

We live quite high up, surrounded by fields so our house is really exposed to the elements. When a storm hits we can always hear the howling whistling winds and lashing rain beating down on us.  It is usually once the storm has subsided that I love to go down to the beach to watch the huge crashing waves. The power is so immense I am in awe of its natural beauty and surrender myself to never really being able to comprehend the true power and strength of the sea. I always take my camera too, I can’t resist those gorgeous silvery tones!

Silver sea after a storm

To see Zoe's work in progress visit her blog:

www.zoehowarth.blogspot.com

And here is her website:

www.zoehowarth.com

We hope you like these posts about our artist, if there is anything else you want us to blog about leave a comment below!