A celebration of colour and nature
- Jacqui works exclusively with plant-based colour for natural dyeing and printmaking
- Her pieces are shaped by research, experimentation and influences from nature
- She has a background in graphic design and photography
In her work with dye, Jacqui Symons combines traditional natural dyeing techniques and plant-based colour with a contemporary approach and style of work. In 2019, following a year of research into creating oil-based printmaking inks from plant sources, she trained with Jenny Dean, one of the leading natural dyers in the UK. Subsequently Jacqui opened her atelier, Slow Lane Studio. Whilst her skills lie in printmaking with natural colour, a lot of Jacqui’s work focuses on colour testing and sampling, as she studies how to create and replicate a vast array of tones and hues from natural sources. “The colour I use comes directly from the plants, trees and flowers that surround me, so I am constantly inspired by my environment and by being in nature,” she explains.
Interview
- How would you define what you do?
- I am a natural colour researcher and contemporary dye artist. But at the heart of it, I am interested in achieving as many colours as possible from plants – I would like to create the natural colour equivalent of a Pantone swatch book.
- What aspect of your craft tends to surprise people?
- Both the variety and brightness of the colours achieved from natural dyes. People are constantly astonished by the strong colours that can be extracted from plants – blues from green leaves and neon pink from orange petals are examples of this.
- How does your creative process unfold?
- While I am carrying out research or experiments, I often get results that make me want to explore further and use colours in other pieces of work. I also find jotting down thoughts and ideas to be useful, as it allows me to return to something at a later date and develop it.
- What would you suggest to someone starting out in this craft?
- It can be very easy to feel restricted by recipes, methods and advice on how to work with plant-based colours, but fostering a sense of exploration and experimentation is one of the most important aspects of this craft. Do not be afraid to try.
Jacqui Symons is a rising star: she began her career in 2018 and she started teaching in 2021
Where
Jacqui Symons
