Picking up the threads

Sarah moved to Tavistock when she was two years old so can consider herself a local. She lives with her family in Peter Tavy and takes inspiration for her beautiful textile artwork from the moors, the coast and especially the interesting local humans who catch her creative eye.

Having read psychology at Swansea University, Sarah took a job in marketing for Screwfix in Yeovil, before moving back to Devon at the turn of the century with her husband, Richard. Until her twins, Tom and Eva were born in 2006, she worked for local company ‘Gro Group’ which produces baby’s sleeping bags. When the children went to primary school, Sarah felt the need for a change in career and a purpose outside of the family, so she spent three years studying towards accountancy qualifications, squeezing study time in between home commitments - never easy with a young family. Sarah now works part-time with Sponge Learning as part of their finance team, delivering bespoke digital learning solutions to leading global companies.

Sarah traces her love of sewing back to her grandmother. As a child, she used to sit and watch her sewing at her old singer machine and was encouraged to have a go herself - fond memories. Always a maker and mender, Sarah has been producing her own clothes and homewares since she was a teenager and has enjoyed both the creative and the practical side. Recently she has discovered a new interest, a fusion of two techniques: raw edge appliqué and free-motion embroidery. With the feed-dogs disengaged, Sarah uses the sewing machine needle almost as if drawing with a fine ink pen. Using a neutral cotton linen as the background, she chooses small pieces of fabric to collage and curate a scene, before overstitching with fine Italian thread to embellish and enhance the image with intricate detail and texture. She carefully selects the colour palette for each artwork from a range of fabrics she has sourced over many years from various haberdasheries, vintage markets and scrap stores as well as recycled clothes. She has a precious store of old linens from her great grandmother and loves to use scraps of Liberty fabric which can really lift her designs with their elegant colour and classic designs.

Sarah’s first artworks were all snapped up by friends and family and she was encouraged by one of her oldest friends and biggest supporter, Suzie, to sell her artwork further afield. She now exhibits in the Bull Pen Gallery at Cotehele and Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery, and is excited to be exhibiting at her home during Devon Open Studios for the first time this September. She regularly takes commissions, gaining immense satisfaction in bringing to life the visions of her clients and creating a unique artwork to be enjoyed for years to come. Sometimes the materials are very personal, ribbons from wedding favours, silk from a grandfather’s wartime parachute which add an extra special dimension to her art.

Sarah has taken over one of the rooms at home for her new sewing machine and considerable fabric and thread collection, but would love to have a purpose-built studio where she can feel closer to the views and sensations which provide so much of her inspiration, and where she could perhaps hold classes or offer art therapy sessions in the future.

Dartmoor is her happy place and Sarah can often be found on the moor sketching ideas that inform and mould her artworks. She loves this creative element and is constantly churning over ideas, inspired by our beautiful environment and above all, people. All of her pieces feature people, often in a seemingly everyday setting that has been enhanced by interesting fabric choices and delicate stitchwork. Her work is original and contemporary and yet has a timeless, sensitive quality, capturing a moment we can all relate to - walking the dogs, feeding the birds, or swimming in the sea. Some of her most popular designs have been turned into cards which means her artwork can reach a wider audience.

Like so many of us, when covid struck Sarah reconsidered her priorities and found solace and healing in the creative process more than ever. After years of honing her skill at the old singer machine, this new appliqué approach felt as if she had reached her destination in a lifelong journey of sewing, and the positive feedback she receives has given her the belief to share her beautiful art with the world.

By Nichola Williams

For more information, visit essjaytextileart.com; Instagram: essjay_textile_art; or contact Sarah at info@essjaytextileart.com or 07887 876015.