Hello, I am Beth from ‘Boodle’ – screen-printing and drawing are my passions, so I combine the two! Having studied Textile Design at Nottingham Trent, I have been designing and screen-printing ever since.
Apart from creating things what else do you do?
I enjoy long walks, picnics and generally being outside (when the weather’s nice!) If not, a cozy night in with friends and a few gin and tonics does the trick.
I love carrying an idea through into product form and screen-printing is a very satisfying discipline as you can transform ideas into products fairly quickly. I still get excited when washing off the screen after exposure to discover my image 'burnt' into the screen.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I
have always been a keen animal lover, using various animals as inspiration for
my work. I like to make people smile with humanised interpretations of animals
that people can relate to. I am a bit of a crazy cat lady at heart!
If you could peek inside the studio of any artist,
designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?
I
have recently become a bit obsessed with Jane Ormes’ screen prints. She is
local to Bristol but I really like the textures and layers in her work. I
would love to see the process she uses, as I think it would be very different
to mine. I also love the illustrations of Julia Pott, and would love to see how
she makes her animations.
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
My
sister made me a lamp out of an old toaster for Christmas a few years ago -
it’s amazing! Much better than the fake fur tea cozy she made me last year!
I love wandering around independent shops run by artists such as
Fig & Blaze. I find it very inspirational how so many
artists are selling their work in Bristol, and always find it exciting
discovering new local talent. There are so many great local eateries such as No.1 Harbourside and The Thali Cafe and if you’re out for a special
occasion, Bell’s Diner in Montpellier is amazing. I am a big foody, so I’m
still trying to make my way through all that Bristol has to offer.
When did you know you were an artist/maker?
I guess after finishing university I didn’t want to stop
designing and making, so I just carried on and I attended a short business
course to try and make some money from it... I’m still working on that!
I usually get an idea at random moments; while walking to the
post office, or cooking dinner for example. I then try and hold onto the idea
and whenever I have spare time I start doodling away, sometimes it takes a few
goes and some development to get exactly what I want. I then apply this to the
screen-printing process, and think of a product it would work best with.
Exercise and a good bit of fresh air helps to get your brain
going, so I try and go for a run or a quick bike ride. But sometimes you just
have days when you can’t draw, so you just have to resign yourself to an admin
day, which can sometimes be just as valuable.
Where
would you like to be in ten years?
I would like to have my own studio
with printing equipment so I can potter about and experiment with ideas a bit
more. I would love to do some design work for bigger companies and charities
such as the RSPB or The National Trust, and being able to work on ‘Boodle’ full
time with a few employees would be my dream.
Thank you Beth for a really great interview. You can find Bethan's wonderful work in our Paper Scissors Stone shop.
Paper Scissors Stone
Quakers Friars
Cabot Circus
Bristol
Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm
Sun: 11am - 5pm
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