Iona MacKenzie Laycock

 

During her degree in Textiles Iona started to work with wool and she hasn't stopped since, after graduating she worked in the Textile Industry in Yorkshire. She had always wanted to develop her own work and started to work on the technique she uses today about five years ago.
Historically Iona's inspiration lay in the land and seascapes of the north coast of Scotland, rich in minerals, textures and colour accentuated by the clarity of light Iona started to experiment with materials to try and create the atmospheric landscapes.
"I combine wool fibres and fabrics painted with pearlescent paint; I build up layer upon layer and then melt through sections to create rich textures. My smaller pieces are framed but I have also made huge wall hangings"

A couple of years ago I felt I needed to have a period of development and decide to go to New Zealand a country rich in landscape and also wool.'
Iona visited both north and south Island and made sketches of the areas she visited, she was also inspired by Maori art, and was able to stay in some sheep farms.
On her return she started to dye the New Zealand wool and incorporate it in her textile work which now depicts the landscapes of New Zealand. In 2005 she exhibited at the New Zealand High Commission in London and she plans to revisit New Zealand this year. Plans for the future include trying to organise a creative exchange between a New Zealand Artist who is using wool fibres in an unusual way.