Liz Heywood interview: Working with wire

Liz Heywood interview: Working with wire

Textile artist Liz Heywood creates quilts using a combination of machine embroidery, knitted wire, and paper pulp. Her aim as an artist is to capture the essence of plants and present that essence in a surprising and fresh way.

Liz  Heywood -Allium

Liz Heywood -Allium

Captivated by quilts

TextileArtist.org: What initially captured your imagination about textile art?

Liz Heywood: It was when I first saw some patchwork quilts; I had no idea that such things existed. They were displayed on a wall in a gallery in London and I was captivated immediately by their size and the visual impact they made. The patterns created, as I found out later, were made by individual blocks which were simple but when combined produced more elaborate patterns. It had never occurred to me that such art could be made in fabric.

What or who were your early influences and how has your life/upbringing influenced your work?

My early influences were in art as I enjoyed drawing and painting, but at that time I had no interest in textiles or sewing. Perhaps it was the lack of stimulus at this stage that made stitched textiles so exciting later on in my life. Although my mother could sew and knit she did very little of either activity as far as I can remember. All her energy and spare time was spent in her garden. She did own a sewing machine which I borrowed years later when I started patchwork and quilting classes. Then when I wanted to knit using wire she taught me how to cast on and cast off, a skill I had previously never mastered.

Liz Heywood - Willowherb

Liz Heywood – Willowherb

A change in direction

What was your route to becoming an artist?

Although I would have liked to have had an art training I was encouraged to study an academic subject at university instead. It was not until several years later that I took a class in patchwork and quilting. After learning the basics I started to make traditional and then contemporary quilts. To gain more information and learn skills I did City and Guilds Part 1 and 2 in Patchwork and Quilting.

Since I had enjoyed the experience so much I then went on to the Stitched Textile Diploma HE at East Berkshire College, Windsor. This course was run by Jan Beaney, Jean Littlejohn and Ros Hills. It was here that I was introduced to a whole range of new ideas and skills that led to a change of direction for my work.

What is your chosen medium and what are your techniques?

It was at East Berkshire College, Windsor that I first developed the technique that I am using at present. At this time I discovered free machine embroidery and found how exciting and versatile this could be. I also experimented with knitting in wire. These two skills are combined in my work to produce hangings that look delicate and fragile but are surprisingly robust.

I have always enjoyed plant and flower drawing so this was an obvious subject to explore. Seed heads and plants that grow wild in the countryside are my favourite images, though I have also used plants found in gardens. The cycle of degeneration and regeneration is constantly in my mind. The knitted wire represents the cell structure of all living things and the addition of paper pulp hints at the decaying process.

Liz Heywood - Ivy

Liz Heywood – Ivy

Assessing visual impact

Tell us a bit about your process and what environment you like to work in?

I have a work room and also a small kitchen that I can use for wet work. The most important thing I have is a large design wall. This is invaluable for displaying work in progress and when completed to assess the visual impact. With machine embroidery you get very close to the piece most of the time and need to stand back and consider what you have done. I like to work in a quiet environment where I can concentrate without being distracted.

The work is completed in stages. First the knitted wire base is completed. The machine embroidery is then stitched on soluble fabric and later attached to the hand knitted wire. The background is made separately and auditioned on the design wall, so that it enhances and does not overpower the stitched embroidery. Finally the paper pulp is added and painted.

Do you use a sketchbook?

Yes. I always use a sketchbook to draw the plants that I will use in my work. I will draw them several times using different specimens so that I am very familiar with the structure and growth pattern. I need this practice as the next step will be drawing on the machine and I need to be confident with the shape and structure of the plant before I do this.

When I go out walking I constantly look at plants and observe details and interesting growth structures. Climbing or hanging stems that intertwine are particularly interesting and provide the structure that I want to interpret in a stitched textile.

Liz Heywood - Marsh reeds

Liz Heywood – Marsh reeds

The structure of stems and branches

What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?

I am still inspired by plants and trees and the structure of stems and branches and intend to continue working with these images. Although I go to as many exhibitions as I can it is the countryside that inspires me most.

There are many artists whose work I admire but to name a few: I have always enjoyed the work of Paul Klee and found his exhibition at Tate Modern inspiring because of his masterly use of colour and detail and the thought and knowledge that underpin his work. John Piper‘s work appeals again because of his use of colour and his draughtsmanship. Bridget Riley‘s paintings, though very different, use colour and shape in an inspirational way and although abstract are evocative of their subject. The earlier op art works are intriguing and fascinating and continually amaze me. I admire Gerhard Richter‘s paintings for the diversity of his work which invites closer inspection to see his skilful use of colour and detail. Although Anthony Gormley is a sculptor he is also definitely an artist who has produced a variety of thought provoking work on the human body which is both moving and beautiful.

Liz Heywood - Cascading Leaves

Liz Heywood – Cascading Leaves

Tell us about a piece of work you have fond memories of and why?

Cascading Leaves was the last of the pieces that I made for the final exhibition for the course at Windsor. There were six pieces but this one appealed to me most, as I felt I had finally been able to show what I felt about the nature of the plant. I saw it growing at the Living Rainforest in Berkshire and made a sketch which I developed later. The twining, hanging stems created an amazing pattern and the leaves were a perfect shape.

Liz Heywood - Cascading Leaves (Detail)

Liz Heywood – Cascading Leaves (Detail)

Layers of wire

 

How has your work developed since you began and how do you see it evolving in the future?

Although I have continued to work with machine embroidery and wire and the same subject matter, my practice and skills have developed since those early experiments. I am now interested in creating pieces with layers of wire and a delicate background that encourages closer inspection. As well as this I belong to a group Studio 21 and we are working with a variety of mixed media.

Increasingly I am drawn to using more wire in my work and have become interested in producing 3D pieces, an area I have previously avoided.

What advice would you give to an aspiring textile artist?

The most important thing in your textile work is to make what you really want to. Be true to yourself, you must enjoy the making and the finished result. Listen to advice and attend workshops to improve your skills. Visit exhibitions and look at the work of other artists.

Liz Heywood - Teasels

Liz Heywood – Teasels

 

Which books have you found most inspirational in your work as an artist?

There are a vast number of textile books which are informative and inspiring though I believe that it is also important to look at the work of artists working in a variety of media. I have found that I constantly refer to Pattern, Colour and Form: Creative Approaches by Artists and Making and Drawing by Kyra Cane. The Art Textiles of the World published by Telos are also an inspiring series and I particularly enjoy Japan (Art Textiles of the World).

What piece of equipment or tool could you not live without?

Without doubt it would be my sewing machine. I love working with my machine and would be lost without it. I have never really enjoyed hand sewing!

Thursday 28th, March 2024 / 19:41

About the author

Joseph Pitcher is the son of textile artist Sue Stone. He is an actor and voice-over artist and has worked at the RSC, the National Theatre, West End theatres and several other leading regional venues across the UK. Find Joe on Google

View all articles by Joe Pitcher

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3 comments on “Liz Heywood interview: Working with wire”

  1. Emma says:

    Hi, from looking at your work I`m really interested in how you first began your career as an artist. I was wondering how you started up, e.g. whether you had a studio, etc.. Your work acts as an inspiration for my work which is why I wish to know further information on how you started your work as a textile artist.

    I would appreciate hearing from you as it would help develop my work further.
    Thanks
    Emma

    • Liz Heywood says:

      I started working with wire when doing the HE diploma work at Windsor. At that time I was able to concentrate particularly on making these pieces which was important as I was using new techniques. They were made in the workroom/studio in my house where I can work without interruption and I where I have space to work and view the pieces to consider their impact.

  2. Mignon says:

    Inspirational,as a student of visual art textiles in South Australia it is great to find stimulation for something really different

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