Ushma Sargeant – Introduction to Fibre Art

An introduction to the history of fibre as a medium for artistic expression. Exploring the materials, tools, and techniques used by the artist to create artwork using a variety of natural and synthetic fibers such as wool, silk, and acrylic.

Living on the Ridgeway National Trail, where Wiltshire and Oxfordshire meet, Ushma creates evocative textile art reflecting the stunning landscapes which surround her and exploring the subject of mental health through her art. The pieces Ushma creates depict this rural countryside in a medium which captures light, depth and texture better than she feels she could achieve with paint. More recently Ushma’s textile work has extended toward abstract and vibrant work. She has been exploring the subjects of mental health and moods through the seasons and the symbolism, history and mythology of local flora and fauna in relation to our health and wellbeing. Having started using fibre in her work in 2015, Ushma is continuously exploring new techniques to achieve the desired effect. She uses a variety of fibres including wool, silk, camel, alpaca, llama, angora, flax, seaweed, bamboo and acrylic, always looking for the right fibre and texture for the detail and enjoying the challenge of learning new techniques.