IN CONVERSATION WITH ANGIE HUGHES

Angie Hughes is a textile artist and tutor who lives and works in Ledbury, Herefordshire. Her artwork is inspired by many themes, particularly poetry or text, the natural world and especially plant forms. Since September 2006, she has solely run Ledbury Artplace - a recently renovated 18th century building comprised of purpose built art studios and workshop facilities used for teaching a variety of drawing, painting, textile and craft subjects. Stitch, Cloth, Paper & Paint is her first book and is full of wonderful mixed media ideas and inspiration.

ANGIE HUGHES

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS STUDIO: Favorite place you've been or lived?
ANGIE HUGHES: The Knapp and Papermill nature reserve near Alfrick, Worcestershire any time of the year, though in the spring it's the most beautiful place in the world to me.

FLOWER BOOKWRAP

RWSS: Morning person or night owl?
ANGIE: Morning - I usually go swimming if I'm at home.

RWSS: Dogs, cats or.........
ANGIE: Tadpoles.....very low maintenance, cost nothing in vets bills and leave home on their own!

RWSS: If you had to choose another career what would it be?
ANGIE: A musician.

RWSS: Do you do anything special for your birthday?
ANGIE: Not particularly, though a friend of mine always carries a marrow with him on his special day.

HUNG WITH STARS

RWSS: Best dessert:
ANGIE: Anything with lemons.

RWSS: Mac or PC?
ANGIE: PC - I spend far too much of my time in front of it though.

RWSS: Who's on your i-pod?
ANGIE: PJ Harvey, T-Bone Burnett, Dan Auerbach, The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, The Be Good Tanyas.

URIEL

RWSS: Best advice you've ever received?
ANGIE: If you can't stick it, stitch it!

RWSS: Worst advice you've ever received?
ANGIE: Wait!

LIVE LIFE BAG

RWSS: Are there any of your own pieces that you can't bear to part with?
ANGIE: A piece I made last year called What Lies Beneath - it's too personal to let go.

WHAT LIES BENEATH

RWSS: What is the most rewarding part of being involved with Ledbury Artplace?
ANGIE: The exchange of ideas with the students, I learn as much from them as they do from me.

RWSS: Best part of your day?
ANGIE: 4 o'clock at the end of a workshop, the humdrum of noise dies down and reflection sets in. I love teaching but enjoy the silence afterward.

GARDEN BOOKWRAP

RWSS: Favorite medium to work with?
ANGIE: Velvet. It's a lovely surface to paint and stitch and it has super quiltyness about it.

RWSS: Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
ANGIE: Myself at the moment!

BABEL

BABEL DETAIL

RWSS: What would you do with a few extra hours each day?
ANGIE: Sleep. I think it's me age.

RWSS: Favorite quote:
ANGIE: "Time flies like the wind, fruit flies like a banana". Groucho Marx.

BEJEWELLED BAGS

RWSS: What is the one thing that people would be surprised to find out about you?
ANGIE: I sing and play guitar and perform quite regularly.

RWSS: What's on the horizon for......
ANGIE: I'm trying to write another book, but I find this process hard to start.

INDIAN ARTIFACT

RWSS: I'd be lost without........
ANGIE: My sewing machine a Bernina and my guitar.

RWSS: Any words of wisdom?
ANGIE: Don't think too hard - it doesn't change anything. Always carry a camera and sketchbook, eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired.

SUNDIAL DIPTYCH

DIPTYCH DETAIL

Beautifully illustrated, Angie's new book Stitch, Cloth, Paper & Paint explores an exciting range of mixed media techniques and their effects on fabric and paper. Filled with inspiration and know-how, this book is sure to become a favorite with textile artists, embroiderers, quilters and papercrafters.

STITCH, CLOTH, PAPER & PAINT

We were delighted that Angie was able to fit our interview into her busy schedule and wish her much success with her first book. To learn more about this entertaining and talented artist, please visit

www.angiehughes.com.