Susie Stone — Borough of Ealing Art Trail

How did you become an artist? (Formal training or another route)?

I have always been drawn to the creative arts, from my hairdressing days in the 60/70s to copying miniskirts from Mary Quant and Biba.

I was tutored in the 1980s at Windsor College’s Embroidery City & Guilds course by the world-renowned textile artists Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn. This was followed by numerous classes and workshops with my favourite textile artists, countrywide, before finding my own personal style of working.

Tell us a bit about your process and the environment you work in.

I work in a cluttered workroom from home, often working on a few things at the same time. As a member of the group knot.just.stitch we meet and work together in each other’s home studios. sharing, critiquing and ‘playing’ with numerous mixed media. Always exploring new materials and methods.

What is your current inspiration and which other artists do you admire?

My most recent series of work Bloomin’ Vases comes from observing today’s commercial flowers: interbred, dyed and exaggerated versions of nature’s best and inspired by a love of modern ceramics.

My preference for working with stitched textiles is inspired by Artists, Bobby Britnell, Gwen Hedley and Amarjeet Nandhra and many more talented women.

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

I also knit garments and sew shirts, dresses and other wearables. I love colour and shape and playing with new products alongside the old faithfuls, which always lead to ‘what ifs’.

Being part of a group expands all of our creativity and knowledge, plus attending museums, exhibitions and galleries for inspiration,

Which piece of equipment is indispensable to you when working?

After music and coffee, it would be my paints, fabrics and sewing machine,

If you could have a drink with one artist living or dead, who would it be?

Constance Howard MBE 1910 to 1999. She was the greatest pioneer of creative embroidery in the British Isles in the twentieth century, easy to spot in a crowded room with her green hair. She was mentor and inspiration for so many of today’s textile artists.

When working is there a particular genre of music or musician that you like to listen to?

My music tastes are as eclectic as my work - from the classical, to opera, to a whole genre of modern artists.