“ferli: from Middle English fērlī (“astonishing, surprising, unexpected”)…”
I love making art. I have always loved it, and although my education and work have taken me in other directions, the need to create just never went away. I’ve enjoyed a lot of different materials and techniques over the years. For me there’s something magical about art forms where I might have planned, sketched and visualised… but then there’s a stage where the materials and the process take over and I don’t quite know what I am going to get.
When I came across the concept of “painting with felt” I quickly realised that it ticked all of my boxes: colour, light, texture…and the all important element of surprise! My subject matter is usually landscape or nature based, so working with an organic material like wool just feels right. You’ll find plenty of felt in my portfolio…but for me, a lot of the joy in making art comes from playing and experimenting and refusing to be pigeon-holed, so there will be other things in there too!
I am lucky enough to be surrounded by nature, from local parks in the south of Sheffield to the stunning Peak District a short drive away. This is where I recharge, reflect and draw a lot of my inspiration from. Sometimes this leads to a picture of a specific place, but at other times it’s more of a starting point…
I’ve created mainly for family and friends for a long time, alongside some sales and commissions. Now my own family have grown up, it’s time to take the next step. So welcome to ferli arts. I’m sure it will evolve over time and I’m really excited to see where it goes. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do!
Tabi
