Katharine Swailes

This diptych is a memory and reflection of a rural landscape, with long views and wide low horizons, the dry heat of summer bringing the chalk to the surface. These works were woven together side by side on the loom, although separate they grew together the path from one work to the other subtly passing from one to the other. The pathway is that of the weaving process, the random selection of dyed yarns for these works yarns makes visible the invisible path that meanders through the works.

Talking about her Colourfield Series Katharine said: "My Colourfield handwoven tapestries are created using a sequence of discontinuous lines woven horizontally, starting from the bottom edge the slow progress upward is like layers of sediment laid down and compressed, a woven record of the day. These compressed coloured strands of handed dyed wools, building to create abstract works that speak of their making.The starting point is dyeing the yarn, this happens in my garden the outdoors informs the colour. Reflected light from the sea and lush vegetation, guiding my eye to create a family of colour reflecting the seasons and light qualities of the day. Working with no preparatory drawings or weaving guide, structured preparation of materials before the weaving, allow contemplation of process and self when I sit at the loom. The meditative pathway of each work is lightly trodden, with no design or preparatory drawings, just the process and the day recorded, to an undisclosed covered outcome."

Katharine has created textiles for over 30 years, specialising in conventional flat wall works and smaller three-dimensional sculptural pieces. She also weaves large scale commissions at Atelier Weftfaced and West Dean Tapestry Studio. The constructively open-ended nature of the medium is at the heart of Katharine’s practice. In 2016 Katharine received the Theo Moorman Award and she has been shortlisted for the Cordis Prize in 2016 and 2019. In 2020 her work was included in the exhibition Common Thread at the New Art Centre, Wiltshire.