I am an artist, craftsperson, Forest School Leader, outdoor educator and enthusiastic dancer of Gabrielle Roth’s 5Rhythms.

I live with my two dogs in a tiny cottage in Staithes, a fishing village in North Yorkshire where my family also lives. I also travel around staying with friends in Wales where I lived for many years, and in Scotland.

Wherever I travel, I indulge my life-long obsession for collecting natural and junk treasures ~ on beaches, by roadsides, in skips and charity shops. I transform these materials into beautiful, balanced and harmonious artefacts including driftwood mirrors and spinning mobiles, dream catchers, wire sculptures and beaded fans and feathers.

I especially like making beautiful bespoke objects which have a special meaning for the people involved. I would love to hear from you if you have an idea which you would like me to call into being for you.

Sarah

eco- friendly treasure hunting

My sister and I were raised in the spirit of Make Your Own long before craft became trendy and recycling junk was rebranded as up-cycling the pre-loved. We always were surrounded by heaps of raw materials to inspire and support our creativity. Lace, buttons and fabric which our mom cut from old clothing, shiny copper wire which our father painstakingly stripped, balls of wiggly wool which our grandmother un-knitted from sweaters. Our mom spent hours encouraging us to make things, so that my sister and I both have nimble fingers and a confidence in our ability to create.

At Forest School I am now encouraging more people to be comfortable making things for themselves. I also try to foster a sense of awe and stewardship for this wonderful earth on which we live.

Using natural resources and reusing manmade materials means there are fewer things to throw into that mythical hole in the ground. It helps to reduce our carbon footprints and ecological impact. I love the element of chance and serendipity which is involved when materials are found not bought. It is amazing how often I find just what I need just when I need it.

about driftwood

Driftwood is wood which has been smoothed and polished and somewhat hardened by the sun and sea. I rinse it and spread it on the shed roof to dry in the sun (or round the stove in winter). It requires no further treatment.

I collect driftwood in the UK, mostly on the beaches of North Yorkshire. When the winter storms cover the beaches with wood, I spend many hours a day collecting, drying and storing it to use throughout the year.

I love working with driftwood. I get very absorbed by the way different shapes fit together or by the silhouettes they make when suspended. ome pieces have a breathtaking unique beauty and other shapes re-occur over and again.

All the pieces in the wall hangings and sculptures are woven together and pegged as well as glued to create strong, durable rigid pieces.

The hearts and large mirrors are built up from layers and layers of wood, completely covering the base and together creating curves and flow patterns similar to a log jam in a river. The cork and chalk boards, smaller mirrors and trees are built in a more open filigree style, using pieces which are fewer in number but individually more ornate.

All the hearts, mirrors and cork and chalk boards have solid backs with wall fixings for convenient hanging. The large, extra large and supersize hearts are heavy sculptures and require careful hanging.