Textiles crafted naturally
- Ellen prepares her own natural dyes
- Nature is her main inspiration and concern
- She has collaborated with Liberty of London and Jigsaw
Ellen Mae Williams is a young British textile artist specialised in hand-painting and hand-dyeing on natural fabrics. Her practice combines her own creativity, something she has been aware of since her childhood, with the skills acquired over an extensive course of study: a BA degree in textile design and a Master in Textiles at the Royal College of Art in 2019. Nature is the absolute protagonist of all her creations, not only in terms of inspiration and subjects, but also in terms of sustainability. Ellen Mae only paints on natural fabrics with the natural dyes that she prepares herself, in tune with the seasons and the subtle beauty each one brings. Her designs are mainly abstract interpretations of natural landscapes through mark-making.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
In my opinion, working on the palette and preparing the colours are the key aspects and the most experimental. It is a real challenge, but it is extremely gratifying as you know that the result can be great. With my first experiment I obtained a beautiful pink from avocado skin and stone.
Nature, with its seasons, is the source of my raw materials and dyes and my source of inspiration. It is also my main concern, as well as the subject of my pieces. I see a circularity in this way of making which, I think, creates a connection between nature and my clients.
I am conscious of the dramatic damages of the textile industry on the environment and, since the beginning, I decided to reduce the impact of my practice using only natural fabrics, dyes and materials. I protect the inspiration of my work.
I undertook two artist residencies, at Bamford and with The Skopelos Foundation for the Arts, in Greece. I mainly work on a commission basis but I equally enjoy expressing my own inspiration freely, through pieces which can be functional as well as purely artistic.
