After a 30 year medical career in London I moved to West Berkshire in 1999 and began to explore longstanding interests in plants and natural fibres, originally combining both by handknitting cushions using my own plant dyed wool. I now sell plant dyed wool for knitting in a wide range of colours as well as handknitted, simply designed cushions, scarves and baby blankets. The softness of the wool echoes the muted and empathetic plant colours.

I use fresh hedgerow and garden plants almost exclusively, foraging and collecting materials in season. The natural dye colours produced by native plants are mainly the earth colours – greens, yellows, greys, browns and pinks. The challenge and pleasure for me lies in making beautiful colours and uncovering the wide range and subtlety possible within this spectrum. Reproduction is impossible and the unpredictability inherent in the plants and the dyeing process continues to surprise and delight.

While the culinary and medical uses of plants are well known, their dyeing properties have been forgotten. My work revives that tradition in a beautiful, contemporary and accessible form.