Virginia Murphy - Artist and Creative Designer

Unique paintings, hand painted glassware,

felt and machine embroidered pictures

CWSA exhibition October 2020

I have been painting for about 30 years. I did not follow an ‘O’ level syllabus at school but I have always been creative and as a child I was lucky enough to have been taught to sew, knit and crochet by my Grandparents. My mother was a keen seamstress and introduced me to dressmaking. I have always up cycled furniture and enjoyed working with colours.

It was only when I was living in Scotland that the opportunity arose for me to study with well-known Scottish artist Ann Sinclair. After moving back to my home town of Leamington Spa 25 years ago I further developed my painting under the excellent guidance of Warwickshire artist, Pauline Wilson.

I began developing my own technique using various media and experimenting with texture and colour to create a unique style. As all creative people develop their own style, mine evolved from small watercolours to large acrylic and oil paintings expressing my love of colour and nature in bold compositions on canvas. It is a desire to try to recreate the complexity of colours in nature that spurs me on – ever changing my style in the desire to express myself through my pictures.

Although continuing with my painting I now focus much of my time on design and creative arts and crafts. After my daughter completed an Applied Art and Design course I realised how much more there was to learn and develop. Over the last 10 years I have attended several courses in felt making, creative design and printing. I was really inspired from this to experiment with machine embroidery. I then started to create very individual and striking machine embroidered pictures, using handmade felt and beautiful materials. My printing designs continue to develop.

I regularly exhibit my work within Warwickshire. I am a member of Leamington Studio Artists and Coventry and Warwickshire Society of Artists.

I also hold regular needle felting and wet felting courses. The groups are small and very sociable. Please see workshop page

CONTACT DETAILS

Email: virginiamurphy53@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 07833353872

Facebook/Instagram

Workshops

Needle or wet felting

Poppies

Needle or Wet Felting Workshop
Saturday 4 February 2023

10.00 am – 12.30 pm
At Bridle House, 15 Turchil Road, Cawston, Rugby CV22 7FW
Cost: £30 per person including materials

Tutor: Virginia Murphy Please book in advance

Needle felting is a process using a barbed needle to mat the woollen fibres onto a piece of felt instead of using soapy water and rolling wool to create a piece of felt (as used in wet felting). Once felting is completed you will be able to hand or machine embroider on top to further enhance the design. You may not have time to complete your design during the session but will be well on your way to creating a beautiful piece of art. There will be a machine embroidery demonstration at the end of the session using dropped feed dogs.

Please bring: any pictures that inspire you

Wet felting is a method of producing felt from wool and other animal fibres. Warm soapy water is applied to layers of wool tops. Repeated agitation and compression causes the fibre to hook together to create a single piece of fabric. Using a choice of colours you can create lovely pieces – either by actually creating as you go or by experimenting with colour. Once you have your completed piece you can use it to make things (such as a glasses case – this is not part of the session) or develop it into a picture for framing.

Please bring: any pictures to inspire you plus a bath towel( to soak up excess water) and a long wooden rolling pin.

Please bring your own refreshments. Please email Virginia on virginiamurphy53@yahoo.co.uk or

telephone 07833353872 to book. £10 deposit required per person (non refundable but transferable).

If this date is unsuitable please contact me to discuss other dates.

We will be following government guidelines with regard to COVID 19. Attendees to wear face masks during the workshop. Please bring your own