The Owl is symbolic of the Cailleach, Crone or Hag in Scottish folklore and is thought to be the Queen of Winter. This piece depicts her arrival in a flurry of snow and fallen leaves as she brings about the change of season. The key represents the Cailleach’s ancient knowledge and wisdom, but also serves as a symbol of domesticity and the ideal of returning to the safety and warmth of home at the arrival of Winter. The local landscape informs the work from the scenery to the plant material collected for Cyanotype printing. The layered collage nature of the work presents opportunity to incorporate ‘windows’ of memories, narratives and personal experiences in the landscape.
This piece was created using the process of cyanotype to form prints with plant material. Fabrics were dyed with natural indigo, rust and alder on linen and silk. The Owl was hand-carved from a lino block and printed onto silk. The shimmering moon is 23 carat gold leaf. The whole piece is hand and machine embroidered to create a sense of texture, depth and movement