rug weaving

My journey into weaving rugs began when I met Rachel Scott in her home studio on a trip to London. She kindly received me for a visit, and I was very encouraged by the fact that you could make beautiful rugs using very simple means.

When I got back to my digs in the Limousin, France, I took a short apprenticeship in spinning with a local Dutch spinner and bought a simple old spinning wheel from her, which I still use. Wool fleeces are very cheaply available in the Limousin countryside, so it seemed obvious to make use of them.

I mainly use undyed wool, although a few of my rugs contain dyed wool which I bought online when I first began. Now I prefer to use the natural colours of the sheep, as they do not run when washed.

My designs are very primitive. I like to allow the raw texture of the wool to shine through. My rugs are not only decorative, but a voice of cultural resistance in a world dominated by the advanced technology of Western civilisations.

Being mainly self-taught, my hand-woven rugs do not claim to equal the brilliant artistry and craftsmanship handed down through the generations of Berber Moroccan tribespeople, for whom I have great admiration. But like them, I want to preserve a way of life: finding beauty in the natural, celebrating humanity and the innate creativity we all possess.