We are delighted to be showing the work of Kate Farley in our late spring exhibition and excited to be able to show her work as it progresses from paper and smaller scale items to designs for furnishing fabrics.
Kate has an eye which constantly seeks out pattern in the world around us; she is sensitive to the strong graphic elements from the three dimensional and uses these to compose compelling patterns.
Kate first visited Tinsmiths a couple of years ago when we showed some of her limited edition lino-cuts and it has been an interesting journey to see how elements within this work have been translated into repeat patterns for cloth. Kitchen gardens and allotments celebrating the home-grown, home-cooked ethic are the inspiration for this body of work.
As with many designers, the design process starts with the sketchbook which Kate uses to record planting plans of historic kitchen garden as well as here own vegetable patch. Elements from these plans can be turned into motifs for lino-cuts which in turn can be recreated as repeat designs.
Our solo exhibition of Kate’s work has given us the chance not only to show the full breadth of what Kate produces but also explore how the artwork becomes an applied design.
above: oak reading chair and curtain in Kate’s new upholstery and curtain fabrics.