I began to work with jacquard tapestry in 2013 when I was experimenting with different ways to reproduce my photographs. I manipulated my photographs to create a painterly effect and then had these woven into a jacquard tapestry.

Nowadays I’m using my paintings as my starting point for the jacquard tapestry. I like to draw and paint quickly - almost so I don't notice what I’m doing. Things turn out better when I’m not thinking too much. Then I photograph the painted artwork, sometimes layering multiple paintings to create the final artwork to be woven.

Textiles have always been a big part of my world. I started making my own clothes as a teenager- something I have continued to do throughout my life. I worked for many years as a fashion photographer and then as an interior photographer. I’ve been surrounded by textiles and textures for a long time.

The technique of jacquard weaving, named after its inventor Joseph-Marie Jacquard, revolutionized the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution. Jacquard looms introduced an automated way of creating intricate patterns and designs,enabling weavers to produce large-scale textiles with complex motifs. I love the textural quality and the surprise of the transformation that always occurs between the artwork and the finished woven piece.

For sales information and a catalogue of available works please email info@martynthompsonstudio.com