We were delighted to hear from Kim, a textile artist who transforms the landscapes of the Scottish Highlands into richly layered works of fabric and stitch. Drawing on her background in printmaking, Kim combines eco-printing with intuitive hand-stitching to create pieces that reflect the textures, memories, and moods of the land she explores on daily walks with her dogs.
Starting with eco-printed fabrics—dyed using leaves and plants she gathers—Kim layers in traditional Harris tweed, delicate silks, and inherited or locally sourced threads. Her work often references the contrasts of the Highlands: manicured estates vs. wild hills, dense woods vs. open moorland. She sees walking itself as a form of stitching, gathering impressions of ancient trees, shifting light, and the quiet presence of mosses and lichens.
Kim’s pieces act as personal maps of these landscapes, inspired by Gaelic place names, the hidden life of roots and seeds, and Scotland’s rewilding efforts. She stitches intuitively without fixed plans, letting each piece grow organically from the marks already present. Her love for maps appears through tiny inclusions of local place names or abstract shapes echoing mountain contours.
Working with a mix of fine metallic threads and rugged yarns, Kim captures the layers and textures of her environment, from raised moss on rocks to the rich weave of Harris tweed. She prefers natural fibers like silk and wool, avoiding harsh mordants when eco-printing to keep her process gentle on the land she celebrates.
For Kim, the Highlands are more than inspiration—they are a daily companion and teacher, reminding her of the cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. Through fabric and stitch, she invites us to see and feel the deep, quiet stories of these landscapes.
Thank you Kim for sharing your artistic journey with North Needle Arts Guild members.
