Wendy’s creative working life has been (mostly) a perfect combination of travel and exploration, anchored by a life in a world of astounding beauty of rainforests, beaches, bay and country. The nature that surrounds her home, studio and gallery in the Moreton Bay region, near Brisbane, Australia, fills her world with creative possibility.
Wendy’s other special place is the island of Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), only a few hours from her home. This is a haven that nurtures a lot of her reflective, artistic time. This island is so different from her usual environment, and the direction of her work has been deeply affected by this connection over many years. New inspirations from nature lift her, and her collection of colourful wools, silks, and textiles speak to her and guide her hands almost without thinking.
Despite missing her international and across-Australia teaching tours since the restriction of travel, staying close to home this year has also birthed unexpected joy – a custom-built studio gallery. The Felt Studio Gallery is a dedicated space for Wendy to showcase her work, teach in person and online, and welcome visitors to the lush bushland location. This has enabled a new form of social connection where she can enjoy a variety of souls, their personalities and the spontaneous trying-on sessions that can erupt!
Life began for Wendy in country Victoria, Australia. Adopted as a tiny baby, she has two families to be grateful for. Her mother was a documentary writer and historian and she was surrounded by film-making and the entertainment industry as her father was a pioneer in television. Her brother, 12 years older, and Wendy, enjoyed a rich childhood surrounded by bucket loads of creativity, nature, interesting people, and creative role models. Her family had a huge influence on her creativity. Her recent discovery of her birth family and her fourth-generation history within the wool industry, suggests why her natural affinity with wool is so strong!
Encouraged to make things from an early age, she developed creative skills, with textiles and wool making their indelible mark. Good public school art programs developed this creativity even further. Degree studies in teaching, special education, art and home economics, cemented a very creative pathway in life, where the development of creativity and the arts was paramount. She also has a special interest in art as therapy. She has spent a good deal of time working deeply with people, as a special education teacher with adolescents and as a home-based hospice volunteer for 18 years, supporting people at the pointy end of life! Self-employment in the restaurant trade, small business and galleries furthered her business and creative skills.
Murray, her partner, builds beautiful artistic buildings and they enjoy a wonderful creative partnership. Murray has studied the creative process in the USA with Robert Fritz. They have raised two sons who are both makers and now enjoy watching their grandchildren developing their own creative paths.
Wendy’s passion for teaching and creativity has developed over the years. The travel she has enjoyed over the span of her career and the connections she has formed with people and places deeply informs her work – especially wonderful are the connections made with other artists working thoughtfully in their chosen careers.
- Featured artist with Expertise Events, traveling with the Craft and Quilt Fairs to each state in Australia
- Tutor for Needlework Cruises
- Tutor at a variety of events and retreats worldwide
- Assistant editor and then co-editor of Australian Felt Magazine
- Writer of textile related articles for many art/craft related magazines in Australian and overseas publications
- Published work in an international feltmaking book, The Worldwide Colours of Felt
- Life member of the International Feltmakers Association (IFA)
- IFA Regional Co-ordinator for Australia, New Zealand and Asia
- Host for workshops with international tutors from her studio
A life immersed in textiles has given Wendy access to a wonderful professional skill base, and has created long-lasting connections and much-treasured friendships.
Working primarily in handmade felt has opened so many opportunities on both a personal and professional level. Felting has provided her with a creative outlet that is unique and full of challenges. It is always the process that fires her imagination. The magic of wool and the transformative power that lies in her hands never ceases to amaze her. Having made felt now for over 25 years, she feels she is developing a degree of mastery that she finds particularly heartening, comforting and inspiring. Her hands now dance with the fibres she manipulates, often with very little conscious thought. This is a unique experience that can only come with the passing of time and the perseverance of working deeply within one medium.
Her artistic pursuits have been lifelong, and continue to develop in many directions. The confluence of creativity, spirituality and making, form very important connections in her life.
