Ella Robinson

Recently graduated from the RCA after studying Mixed Media Textiles, my practice focuses on combining a variety of unexpected textile media to create vibrantly coloured, patterned pieces.

I approach textiles in an un-conventional manner, often in 3 dimensions rather than working with flat fabric surfaces. Traditional textile media, such as thread or fabric, are combined alongside tougher qualities of materials such as wood or plastic, creating a collaboration between their contrasting properties.

My most recent work explores the use of driftwood used alongside the more expected Textile media of thread. Unwanted materials which often possess unexplored value, carrying a history of their own that is frequently visible from their appearance. Seizing the potential of found objects gives them a new lease of life, typically one very different to that of their original purpose.

My work utilises the texture and character of driftwood, contrasting its weathered, uneven and dull surface against the feminine softness and sheen of thread. Inspired by the British coast, with colour palettes coming from the urban environment of street art and graffiti, these interior and exterior pieces exploit my love of vibrant colour and pattern.

Within my work two separate collections exist. The first; one-off driftwood works where each piece is unique and cannot be recreated, and secondly; pieces that are made from mass-produced, bought wood which can be easily sourced. The driftwood contains a character and history which is not present in the mass-produced timbers but its availability is neither constant nor reliable. Working with the boxy timbers creates a challenge as they possess none of the instant attraction of driftwood.

Previously, whilst studying for my BA at Loughborough, I used very labour intensive hand-cut work to create 2D and 3D textile samples. These could either be displayed flat, or bent to a half-cylinder shape to create a more 3 dimensional surface. Each design contained hundreds of simple shaped pieces, made from balsa wood, poly-cotton, polypropylene plastic or cork, hand glued to a backing material. These designs were inspired by the everyday shapes and colour combinations that I experienced during my daily activities.