Some time ago, a friend gave me an old Japanese book which had been damaged by insects. She thought it would be something I could use in my work. I kept the book for over a year before I eventually decided what to make with it first. I love the way that Japanese anemonesContinue reading “Japanese Anemones”
Category Archives: Gillian Taylor
Theatre programmes
I was commissioned to make a collection of envelopes using these wonderful old theatre programmes. It was an enjoyable challenge selecting the most significant pieces of text from the programmes and then making sure that they were still visible when the envelopes were put together. It takes a surprising amount of paper to make oneContinue reading “Theatre programmes”
Remembrance
As November 11th approaches, I’ve been thinking about Eric, an aircraft engineer based in Southampton during World War II. I’m fortunate enough to have Eric’s love letters, which is a great privilege. Eric wrote to his love two or three times a week for five years with messages of love interspersed with news of everyday lifeContinue reading “Remembrance”
Lasers or scissors?
I’ve just attended an amazing three day course at the University of the West of England, exploring printing and laser cutting paper. Laser cutting involves careful preparation of computer files and is more time consuming than just the process of cutting on the machine. You can, however, cut huge quantities of paper shapes relatively quickly.Continue reading “Lasers or scissors?”
Letter cards
I’ve been commissioned to make a piece using some letter cards written during the 1950s to a young woman based in North Devon. The letter cards are beautifully dainty things and lovely to work with. I used a piece of the original ribbon that the letters were bound in.
Love
LOVE, and exhibition with a romantic theme, runs from 1 to 26 February at Atelier Gallery, Barnstaple. My work includes collections of small envelopes created from original love letters written during World War II. The acrylic valentines shown here use fragments of the letters and hang from coloured ribbons, inspired by the way the originalContinue reading “Love”
Luggage labels
I’m working with luggage labels at the moment. I have an old battered suitcase which must have travelled all over the place, each time with a different luggage label attached. I’m using postcards too – the messages which travellers send home from their holidays. The new work will be shown during Exeter Open Studios fromContinue reading “Luggage labels”
Devon Open Studios
Getting ready for Devon Open Studios this weekend (Sat 11 & Sun 12 Sept 2010). I’m exhibiting in Cockwood Village Hall EX6 8NU with three other artists – photographer Roy Adams, watercolourist Tony Bird and printmaker Moragh Brooksbank. My work includes these collections of bundles of postcard fragments. I’m still hoping to find the familyContinue reading “Devon Open Studios”
Joseph Schulist’s letters
I’m looking for the family of Joseph Schulist, an American serviceman in England during World War II. I’m an artist based in Devon, England, and I’ve acquired some letters written by Sgt Schulist which I plan to use in my work and I’d love to know what happened to him. I won’t be publishing the letters,Continue reading “Joseph Schulist’s letters”