Debbie Smyth is textile artist most identifiable by her statement thread drawings; these playful yet sophisticated contemporary artworks are created by stretching a network of threads between accurately plotted pins. Her work beautifully blurs the boundaries between fine art drawings and textile art, flat and 3D work, illustration and embroidery, literally lifting the drawn line off the page in a series of “pin and thread” drawings.

“I love the ambiguity of the aesthetic. On first glance, it can look like a simple pencil sketch but something’s awry. As you get closer sharp lines come into focus, creating a spectacular image made of masses of thread. The designs are first plotted out before being filled out with the thread, the sharp angles contrasting with the floating loose ends. And despite the complexity of this lengthy process I try to capture a great feeling of energy and spontaneity, and, in some cases, humour.”

Debbie established her studio practice in 2009. Having worked on an extremely diverse range of projects spanning large scale hotel installations, event art, corporate interiors, illustration, gallery installations and smaller bespoke pieces; the practice has now grown to be family run creative studio distinguished for this craft.

“Our process is very material led. We look at thread as a drawing medium; how the thread falls or knots, often dictates the next step. Achieving complex shading and tactile surface patterns through an innovative application that I developed whilst studying, and have since gone on to master. We enjoy taking thread out of it’s comfort zone, presenting it on monumental scale and creating an eyecatching, and in some case jaw dropping effect.”

Debbie Smyth studio has worked with companies both nationally and internationally including Adidas, Mercedes Benz, Liberty London, Hermes, Ellesse, The New York Times, Toshiba, The Canadian Red Cross, Sony, and The Dorchester Hotel Group. By collaborating with interior designers, architects and other creative practitioners on a regular basis allows us to push the expectations of this craft even further

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