Abigail Bury

This month we are thrilled to introduce you to artist Abigail Bury. Abigail is a textile artist based in Gloucestershire. Her beautiful work regularly features in interior design magazines as well as at our own Tactile Fusion exhibition in 2020. Abigail has kindly agreed to answer our questions into her artistic life and as an extra special feature has made a video showcasing the creative process behind her latest prints - which you can find below. Thank you so much Abigail, for sharing your art path with us here!

HOW DID YOU BECOME AN ARTIST ABIGAIL?

A lifelong appreciation of textiles led me to explore and develop many needlework skills, both hand and machine, and in my early 40's I enrolled to do a 3 year BA (Hons) Textile Design course at Hereford College of Arts after becoming increasing frustrated with my lack of direction concerning my creativity. The children had grown up and left home, and I was left wondering what on earth to do with my life. The Textile Design degree really helped to focus and inform my choices, and on completion I felt ready and excited to set up my own business in 2015 and unleash my fabrics on the world!

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOUR ART?

My collection of fabrics for interiors were bom out of a passion for flowers, gardening and having flowers within my house; I wanted to capture the beauty of the floral bouquet. The fabrics are also a recognition of my love of colour, pattern and design. lnspiration is drawn from a wealth of subject matter. I love visiting historic buildings, walking out in the countryside, and along coastlines, and experiencing the bustle of busy cities. I greatly enjoy visiting exhibitions and looking around art galleries and fairs. I am constantly aware of the patterns, colours, images and shapes that surround me; life is inspiring! It might not all have a direct influence on my designs, but it definitely feeds in in subtie ways.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE WANTING TO PURSUE ART?

It’s never too late! I am so pleased that I took the journey to become a textile designer, even if it was rather late in life.

WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

My fabrics are primarily created by using hand prosesses such as drawing and painting, mark-making and layering. Further manipulation and experimentation with scalg layering and repeat often follows on Photoshop, but this aspect is kept to a minimum and the original feel and look of the drawing process is never lost in the design. These designs are then printed digitally in the UK, digital print is the best way, I find, to translate my drawings onto fabric. Producing this latest collection of floral and coordinating fabrics was such a joy, I hope you find pleasure in these fabrics aiso.

Watch this short video to find out more about Abigail’s creative process and see more examples of her lovely work.

Here’s how to contact Abigail: email - hello@abigailbury.com or Instagram @abigailbury

Meet the Artist - Abigail Bury