Yvonne Le Mare
Yvonne is a Nidderdale based textile artist who uses the traditional and historical techniques of felt-making as a springboard to explore, manipulate, and transform a wide range of natural fibres and fabrics, thus giving this ancient craft a contemporary and sophisticated edge.
She particularly enjoys creating felted garments and artworks using the distinctive, curly locks from the Teeswater sheep.
A wedding dress made from Teeswater sheep fleece is the ‘show stopper’ of the exhibition. Made by Yvonne Le Mare and photograph taken by Melissa Peakman
She delights in both the process and the basic natural ingredients of wool, silk, and plant fibres, finding that the art of feltmaking has its own energy and dynamism – it can be light and delicate, painterly or structured and solid. It is an immensely versatile, thrilling adventure, and by combining techniques gives a creative freedom to use an infinite variety of shape, pattern, colour and texture.
Her aim is to bring feltmaking to a wider public and to break down the boundaries that have traditionally existed between art, design and craft by highlighting the wonderful potential of wool!
Yvonne is a Member of the International Feltmakers Association and The Craven Guild of Handspinners, Weavers & Dyers.