Kath Love:
Textile artist.
Sewing was my worst subject at school, I was always last to finish and was constantly getting in a mess with the sewing machine and testing the patience of the teacher. I would never have believed I would go on to spend so much of my time sewing. I always loved art lessons though and the art room became my safe haven at school.
I went on to study ceramics and textiles at Crewe and Alsager College in Cheshire where we were encouraged to experiment with materials and techniques and also taught the discipline of keeping a sketch book, which I have done ever since. I also learnt to overcome my fear of sewing machines. I graduated in 1994 and concentrated on working with textiles.
My work reflects my journey, from the rural landscape of Cheshire to allotments in Bolton, my work has always been inspired by the environment around me. Moving to Deal in 1998, I continued to develop my work, taking inspiration from the coastal landscape, days at the beach and the ever-present seagulls. Recently I have been inspired by ‘treasures’ brought home from beach cleans, objects found tangled amongst the seaweed and hidden in the pebbles. I am also working with tiny scraps of fabric to make patchwork pieces, linked to ideas around zero waste and the break-down of plastic in the sea into ever smaller bits.
I have a large collection of fabric and threads in my studio which end up strewn around me when I work. I do have a sewing machine but it mostly gathers dust as I love to sew by hand. I combine patchwork, applique and embroidery techniques and work with recycled fabrics, particularly old pinstriped shirts, which I enjoy hunting out in charity shops.
I have worked at St Mary’s School in Deal for the last 15 years and really enjoy my role there as a teaching assistant. Now that my own children have grown up, I can come home from work and disappear into my studio for a few hours and be in a world of my own away from any stress.
I have been a member of SEAS since 2005 when I exhibited with the group for the first time in ‘Art in Action’ at the Landmark centre. SEAS has been a big part of my journey, giving me the opportunity to meet other artists, make friends and to develop my practise as well as many opportunities to exhibit.
I regularly participate in SEAS Open Studios and show my work at the Joanne Harmer Gallery in Deal and Lovelys Gallery in Cliftonville.
This May I am looking forward to taking part in ‘Stitched, Stabbed and Woven’, a group exhibition of textile art at Beach Creative in Herne Bay.
SEAS - South East Artists 