Heather Bear

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I have always had the need to create. Since childhood I always looked at materials with a view to "what can I make with that" "How can I turn it into something interesting or beautiful or something that I need or want". Out of necessity, using objects and things around me from tissue paper, silver foil, old broken necklaces and gradually my mother's old clothes from the attic I experimented to make clothing, cards, artwork and little gifts.

With no formal training, later my work grew with experience and evolved through working in the fashion industry and interior design until eventually I ran a successful small business in soft-furnishings/interiors in London.

My passion has always been for colour and it's intense, reactionary qualities, so with textiles, to mix and match combinations of textures, colour and shape into a wearable piece of art is immensely exciting with endless possibilities. However, I never quite know how they are going to 'evolve'.

I still work with the concept of using what I have collected, reclaimed or recycled, found or had given over the years. These cherished materials eventually dictate a design or destiny of their own.

Living in Pembrokeshire my influences are the sea, sky and coastline we are blessed with, and 'beach-combed' objects often find their way onto my work.