Mandy Shepherd
Mandy Shepherd is a versatile Textile Designer and Creative Practitioner whose skillset spans a broad range of crafts. Her creative approach is characterised by a commitment to reimagining and regenerating materials, breathing new life into objects that might otherwise be discarded. By transforming found objects and leftover materials into unique and meaningful pieces of art, she encourages a greater appreciation for recycling and reuse as a means of creative expression. She is passionate about using it as a vital tool to support her own mental health and general well-being and that of others through creative engagement.
Looking Through My Bedroom
“‘Looking through my Bedroom Window’ represents my bed and the view through the window. I love sunny days in my garden, but there are times when bright sunshine and spring flowers are not enough to temp me from my bed. When responsibility becomes overwhelming, it’s my safe space, where I shut out the noise and distractions of “the real world”. With everything to hand, research, small sketches, or mini makes come easy. The work was created from discarded and reused materials and a loving collaboration with my daughter Victoria who designed the background from Plaster of Paris and acrylic paint on canvas. Using sheeting to represent bed linen and the window frame, I crocheted, plaited and wrapped leftover yarn to create the sun and flowers.”
Image Description:
‘From My Bed’ exhibition photograph of ‘From My Bedroom Window’ against a white wall in the gallery. The artwork is a white A2 sized mixed media artwork. The canvas background is covered with plaster of Paris using a palette knife creating textured ridges and then painted with acrylic paint. The wide border replicates a bed; covered in old white pillowcases, puffy as if stuffed with wadding creating folds and creases mimicking textures of pillows, duvets and mattresses. Then going inwards framing the middle is a crochet chain becoming a window, within this in the top left is a large yarn pompom and in the bottom right is an arrangement of different crocheted, braided, pompom, wrapped yarn flowers.
Audio Description:
External Links:
Outside In Gallery: https://outsidein.org.uk/galleries/mandy-shepherd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandy_shepherd3185/