Fiona R. Hutchison

Fiona R. Hutchison’s Artist Statement

Sea, sailing, and tapestry weaving are passions in my life that I combine to create my visual expression. In Scotland, I am never more than 50 miles from the sea and it has a powerful influence on my life. My current work is inspired by the surface of the sea: currents, tides, whirlpools, and maelstrom, the powerful ebb and flow of water. The work is not a literal translation or a representation of the sea but something remembered. Images and ideas are mostly developed from my own experience but also backed up by research, often being inspired by poetry and the writings of other seafarers. For some, it can be very beautiful and bring great pleasure but for others destructive and deadly. It is this duality that fascinates me.

Recent work explores the 3D qualities that can be achieved with the manipulation tapestry weave. Images are first created as small paintings or drawings, before being translated into tapestry. Some will be small and precious miniature tapestries, and others with strong bold marks will be woven at a larger scale (2 or 3m). I weave on a high warp loom using mostly natural materials in the Gobelin Tapestry Technique.

Fiona R. Hutchison’s Biography

After studying tapestry at Edinburgh College of Art I continued to develop my career as a tapestry artist, dividing my time between, designing and creating my own work, teaching, and working to commission. In 1985, I set up the Buckhaven Tapestry Studio (a work experience project for long-term unemployed adults) which led me to work in adult education. I currently teach Tapestry and Stitched Textiles for the Short Courses department of Edinburgh University as well as delivering studio workshops for beginners and advanced students.

Passionate about the promotion of contemporary tapestry I am a founding member of the European Tapestry Forum and STAR (Scottish Tapestry Artists regrouped). I continue to develop my own practice by participating in international residences and symposiums and traveling to Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Russia, Norway, and Poland to network with other tapestry and textile artists. Exhibiting in many of the major textile exhibitions: Artapestry 3, Europe. Lodz Tapestry Triennial, Poland. Sofia International Paper Art, Bulgaria. 7th ATA Biennial, USA, and at the 5th Cheongju Biennial, South Korea.