Francesca Lindsay-White is a Devon-based artist taking inspiration from nature and mythology. Her pieces are made from a range of materials, including sculpture, felt, and paper. I first came across Francesca’s work at The Glorious Art House, where her art had been made from local textiles.
“When you use materials and you know where it’s come from,” Francesca said, “maybe ten miles away, or perhaps you know the person who produced it – well, there’s something about that connection. I believe it shows a kind of richness.”
So, how does Francesca work creatively? “One way or another, I always interpret things as a textile pattern. My mum taught me to knit, my sister used to sew, and where I grew up, there’s a lot of history with the textile industry. I’m also very process driven, and interested in folklore, religion, old ideas about magic – subjects like that.”
Since her exhibit last year, Francesca has been busy with a sculptural project, inspired by Exeter’s own urban mushroom farm. “The delicate hues and shapes of their oyster mushrooms look incredible hanging from the ceiling in growing bags,” Francesca explained. She also has a murder of calico crows to embroider and then exhibit, which promise to be stunning. Aside from this, Francesca is also in the midst of a teacher training course for secondary education in Design and Technology. She hopes to include classes on dyeing fabric – but not just with any old dye. True to spirit, Francesca wants to teach her students to dye fabric with foraged materials, including kitchen waste.
Now, if you’re reading this, chances are you’re not in secondary school anymore – but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be taught by Francesca. Along with Nigel Fitzhugh, Francesca will be at the Exeter FabLab on Saturday, February 13th, helping people make Scandi dolls, as part of the Phoenix Centre’s Scandifilm season.
Francesca’s art work will soon be available online, but until then, catch her exhibit of folklore-inspired felt jewellery at Cockington Court, Torquay, or pop along to the FabLab and see her in action.
FabLab? Scandi? Think I’m making typo after typo? Find out about Scandifilm here, and about FabLab here.
Nickie Shobeiry