Barbara Gardner Rowell

My creative practice explores narratives of identity, place and belonging through traditional tapestry weaving.

I love the tactile experience of making with my hands, giving form to ideas.

Working with traditional materials and tools of tapestry weaving in a slow process has a very grounding effect which connects me to my ancestral roots in Orkney. The historical origins of tapestry weaving were in social and political commentary and my work explores a similar narrative. I have a large digital collection of graffiti, billboards and street art gathered on my travels, from which to draw ideas for weaving.

In 2016 I was a recipient of the East Lothian Visual Artists and Craft Makers Award which enabled me to purchase a large floor loom to upscale my work. Since then I have been transforming my weaving designs into original large scale tapestries, working from my home studio just outside Dunbar.