When someone says something to you that sets you off on a whole new journey. For me it was when I was doing a shift as a waitress in the pub I have worked at on and off since I was 14. A customer said “if a woman is earning a lot of money she is doing a man’s job.” and I was left with that conflict of being at work and trying to stay professional and seething inside.
The family all know that I talk through my art, this work started as a way for me to portray what has been said to me, sometimes really pissing me off. I then became inspired to give other women a voice. I have been overwhelmed by the words sent to me and I see this exhibition as a work in progress as there is still so much to portray. The feedback already from some of those women has been the most important thing; one said it was cathartic and another said they had been carrying around the words for years without ever sharing them.
When I was deciding how to make this work I instantly knew I wanted to put the words on something inherently feminine and the act of embroidery creates a conversation between the brash sayings and the delicate, domestic textiles.
So that was what it took to start me off thinking about the things men say.
Prints are available of all Things Men Say works:
9×12 inches – £30
10×14 inches -£40
