Artist Work

Artist Statement

I work predominantly in fibre arts, using yarn as my primary material. I chose crochet as my method of self-expression as I enjoy the flexibility and potential of a ball of yarn and a single metal hook. Additionally, in the last couple of years I have moved away from using single use acrylic and other synthetic yarns to more sustainable and eco-friendly yarns that are also vegan, such as organic cotton and bamboo, to reflect my personal beliefs as well as to bring a higher quality to my work.  

Drawing inspiration from the natural world around me, I design unique and creative accessories such as daffodil brooches, North Coast and Glens inspired blankets, as well as fun, colourful greetings cards. My pieces all have a contemporary feel, and I enjoy stitching life and fun into every piece I design. 

My work reflects not only myself but those who share my passions. I aim my crochet designs to be expressions of self; gifts that say ‘I know you’ or ‘I saw this and thought of you’ – that are meaningful and personal, creating a deeper connection between gift giver and gift receiver.   

My crochet work is abstract and exaggerated, with surreal elements such as anthropomorphic fruits. I focus on interpretation not realism, on colour, shape and texture, evoking a feeling and creating a uniqueness.   

Artist Bio

Amanda grew up in Abergele, North Wales, before moving to Liverpool, where she studied BA Media, followed by Postgraduate Creative Practice at Liverpool Hope University. She focused on making short films inspired by surreal and avant-garde styles.  

After University, she joined Red Wire Art Studios and continued to develop her practice producing short films and began to explore media such as textiles. In 2010 she filmed and collaborated with Re-View Textiles’ Day at the ‘Bed-In’ at the Bluecoat Gallery, when artists and the public were invited to create a wall-hanging of their dreams of peace. 

During her time at Red Wire Amanda exhibited and co-organised several events, open studios, talks and exhibitions. For Liverpool Art Month in May 2012 Amanda made and displayed a new film ‘The Waiting Room’ for the Twin Peaks inspired exhibition ‘The Owls Are Not What They Seem’. Amanda co-curated the exhibition with two other artists from Red Wire Studios. In November of the same year, she co-curated and exhibited film and textile work in Fallout Factory Gallery for the group exhibition ‘Unexpected’ on the theme of Pride. Amanda, alongside two other artists set up the Liverpool Critique Group, which met monthly at various art studios around the city.  

Amanda engaged with, and exhibited textile art for ‘Hospitality Re-Viewed’, an exhibition with Re-View Textiles group for Liverpool Independents Biennial Show. The project consisted of a ‘round robin’ work created in groups of three participants where each starts a piece of textile/mixed media work and the following two add to and finish it; exploring the theme of ‘hospitality’.  

Amanda participated in various textile projects and exhibitions with Re-View Textiles, including ‘Textiles in Action’ at the Kirkby Gallery, the Liverpool Design Festival, monthly meetups and skills swaps.  

From 2010-2014 Amanda worked at the Liverpool Community Arts Charity, The Black-E. She had a wide range of roles that included leading young peoples’ workshops in arts and crafts, as well as taking part and helping to develop creative and co-operative games. 

In 2014 Amanda opened her Etsy shop ‘Cabinet of Curious Crafts’, where she sold her crochet work. At this time, she also started to sell her crafts at artisan fairs. Demand for her work grew and she developed more crochet accessories and graphic designed greetings cards. 

Amanda joined Abakhan arts and crafts shop as a crochet tutor in 2017, teaching women to crochet, improve their skills and take part in seasonal and themed workshops.  

More recently, Amanda has been enhancing her design research skills to create the best products possible and gain a better understanding of her customers. This led to working on UX (user experience) research projects, which helped her develop a new range of crochet products themed on creativity for wellbeing.   

Amanda is currently based in a small village outside Ballymena, Northern Ireland. She is a casual trader for Naturally North Coast and Glens artisan markets and has her crochet products stocked in Midtown Makers craft and gift shop.

Exhibitions

Hospitality exhibition with Re-View Textile for Liverpool Independents Biennial Show
September – November 2012
(A ‘round robin’ work created in groups of three participants where each starts a piece of textile/mixed media work and the following two add to and finish it; exploring the theme of ‘hospitality’)

The Owls Are Not What They Seem exhibition at Red Wire Studios
30th May – 2nd June 2012
(A film showing alongside complimentary work by Emma Gilmour and Sarah Jones; part of the Liverpool Art Month calendar of events)

Textiles in Action at the Kirkby Gallery
1st August – 8th October 2011
(Exhibited a textiles and wood furniture installation as part of a Re:View Textiles group show, part of the Liverpool Design Festival)

Frankenwhore at Wolstenholme Creative Space
25th March 2011
(Range of film stills exhibited as part of Red Wire group show and curated a room of bad taste, trash and B-movie cinema)

Light Night open studios at Red Wire studios
13th May 2011
(Exhibited a series of films in an open to the public night at Red Wire)

Bluecoat Bed-In at the Bluecoat
24th November 2010
(Filmed and participated in Bed-In day in collaboration with Re:View Textiles group)

Work in Progress; MA by Creative Practice interim exhibition at South Bohemia Gallery
1st – 30th June 2007
(Exhibited digital artwork)

Short Films

Pride Protest: stop motion 35mm film
2012
(Directed and edited a short film for ‘Unexpected’ show at Fallout Factory Gallery)

The Waiting Room
2012
(Wrote, directed and edited a short Twin Peaks inspired film)

Black-E; Painting the Town Red
2012
(Filmed and edited a short film of the Black-E’s Playscheme activities)

Bed-In at the Bluecoat
2011
(Filmed and edited a short film documenting the Re-View Textile and Beat City Images collaborative Bed-in at the Bluecoat)

Porcupine
2008
(Wrote, directed and edited a short horror film)

A Hot Pot of Surreality
2007
(Wrote, directed and edited a short surreal film on the theme of discrimination)

A Hot Pot of Reality
2007
(Wrote, directed and edited a short kitchen sink drama on the theme of discrimination)