Sue Walton | Mr X Stitch

Sue Walton is a fibre artist from Suffolk, England. "My passion as a textile artist is driven by the texture and tactile nature of the materials themselves and the seemingly limitless ways in which they can be worked. With an underpinning of traditional techniques, I exploit the manipulative properties of fibres and combine them with unexpected and widely contrasting materials. "Influenced by flora and carvings, I produce high relief works incorporating both hand and machine stitch. The manipulative properties of creating felt by hand, incorporating silks and synthetic fabrics within it, and introducing wire, glass, beads and unusual objects gives me control of the surface texture whilst still allowing an element of distortion in the stylized flower forms. When necessary I dye the fabrics and threads, although I enjoy using a natural colour pallet to emphasize the surface texture. Glass as a form of containment adds an element of ‘preciousness’ to my work, producing a Victorian eclectic style with a contemporary twist. "City and Guilds trained and having previously taught in Adult Education in Suffolk, I now devote my time to exhibiting, both nationally and internationally. I am a member of the Suffolk Craft Society and I sell my work through shops and galleries." I first came across Sue's work at the 2012 Knitting & Stitching Show, where she had produced the Jabberwocky installation with Ann Small. Influenced by Lewis Carroll, but with a twist of Tim Burton, their stand was one of the stars of the show, with a magnificent range of pieces displaying with edgy style and gaudy grace. Sue's work brings forth magical natural beings, plants that wouldn't seem out of place in the world of Labyrinth (the film, not the musician) and I find them utterly enchanting. I bought one of Sue's creations - a needle felted worm, created with a vintage fork and a massive glass bead - and it's definitely one of the most original pieces in my collection. Sue's latest work, included as part of Yulia Badian's Woodland Boudoir at the Spring Knitting & Stitching Show, was another range of curious foliage and flower creations. It's as though she has a portal to another world that she visits, collecting new plant forms to share with us. I think they are fantastic, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next. Connect with Sue via her website and enjoy her work! It's beautiful. ----- The Cutting & Stitching Edge is brought to you in association with PUSH: Stitchery, the must-have embroidered art book by Mr X Stitch !