VACMA: Helen Galland – Textile Artist

“I only knew upholstery from TV makeover programmes and books on the subject, I knew I would feel more confident to make textiles for upholstery purposes if I was physically shown the practice.  I am now more aware of what a fabric needs to deliver. I was experimenting, but it is also important to know and understand the end product.  So I’ve become more focussed on understanding what is needed from that particular textile – a stool doesn’t want a lot of floating weft that catches on things, small items might look better with a smaller pattern repeat and so on.

I live a subsistence life with several unguaranteed jobs making up a basic living, so having a dedicated amount of money to be able to pursue a training avenue has been invaluable. I would not have undertaken the training course if I had not been awarded funding.”

https://www.orkneyartsandcrafts.com/helen-galland-woolly-wally-gifts-receives-grant/