I’m an artist-maker who’s been living on the Isle of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides for ten years. I’ve recently moved to mainland Scotland for family reasons but Uist remains at the heart of my work.
The Hebrides are a chain of islands found off the coast of north-west Scotland.They are remote, wild places, now digitally connected with the rest of the world, albeit sometimes a fragile link.
Crofting is an important way of working the land and raising sheep has always been part of community life. Local sheep originally provided the wool for the founding of the Harris Tweed industry on the Isle of Harris and there is still a strong connection with textiles: weaving, knitting and more recently making yarn.
Following a spell as a trainee at Uist Wool five years ago, I began experimenting with felting. It’s a slow, organic process which starts with the shearing, sorting, washing, drying (thank goodness for all our windy days) carding, blending and then finally to the felting itself.
Felt making is an ancient craft and I see it as natural extension of my art practice. It’s good to be working within the traditional textile and cultural heritage of these Gaelic-speaking Islands.
Drawing the wild land and seascapes of Uist has always been at the heart of my work and this understanding translates into rugs, vessels and pods. The botanical and design training I received while training and working as a landscape architect, also underpins my thinking.
Much of information for my work has been gathered and absorbed with the help of my beloved working springer spaniel Sprout, who has recently passed away. I am now in training with a new springer puppy, Oswald, who I hope will also be a good companion.
My work grows and evolves as I make. I’m interested in how the felted work and drawings extend each other when considered together, but I also see them as individual pieces in their own right.
I like to work with sheep and use mainly local fleeces in my work. Hebridean sheep come in many shapes and sizes. My staple materials come from Blackface, Cheviot and the North Atlantic rare breed of Hebridean sheep.
Recently I’ve begun to collect and incorporate local wild plants into my work, especially the Vessels
And combine raw and carded fleece into Rugs
My rugs and vessels are for sale locally. I welcome bespoke commissions. Please email rebecca@rebeccacottonstudio.com or fill in the form on my Contact page
Molagan (Hebridean felted soap) is my first sustainable, local, hand-crafted product, inspired by the sea and available to buy now.
My studio is open by appointment. Please contact me by email to arrange a suitable time to visit.
I also run bespoke workshops for all abilities. Contact me on rebecca@rebeccacottonstudio.com