Madeleine Devitt

I am an Art Textiles Mixed Media Artist and Teacher. I create large scale land and seascape canvases that are playful, atmospheric and evoke a sense of space. I love colour and pattern and use both in my work.  My inspiration comes from a range of starting points, a still life set up in the studio or sketching out in the Derbyshire or Essex countryside, I always carry a camera to capture sunsets and dawn lights, weather and the play of light and shadows created by clouds.  My work develops from photos and sketches into large scale canvases that are then printed or stitched into.  I use acrylics, Brusho and inks, dyes and emulsion paints, big brushes, sweeping lines and I usually blend or mix on the canvas itself.  I then embellish my work with transfer printing, foiling or block or screen printing and finally, stitch in some works.  I enjoy the hands on approach, so much of my work is created in the studio using the techniques mentioned. However, I also have created paintings that have been manipulated in Photoshop and then printed out using the studio’s sublimation printer and been able to transfer onto fabric to create various outcomes, such as canvases, cushions and lampshades.  I also had some designs enlarged and Giclee printed onto canvas at a local digital printer and these are stretched and can be sold as limited prints.  I have been teaching Art Textiles in secondary schools and a 6th form college for nearly 20 years.  My studio offeres the opportuntity for courses and workshops as well as browsing and looking at the art and outcomes for sale.