About Ali
Passionate about the ancient art of feltmaking, I create vibrant, handcrafted pieces using ethically sourced materials, each one an expression of joy and creativity.
The ancient art of feltmaking has been my abiding passion since I first discovered it in 2004 and I have since developed my own technique for working with fleece and fibres. Creating my felt ‘paintings’ is a real joy and it gives me much delight and satisfaction to work in this medium.
I am primarily a wet felter and use ethically sourced Merino wool, Blue faced Leicester and a range of other UK fleece, alongside hand dyed plant and animal fibres. These include Mulberry silk tops, bamboo fibres, spun yarn and occasionally fabrics.
Each piece often begins with an idea, a sketch, a photo or a cherished memory, but the wool tends to work its magic and often something quite unexpected and unintentional begins to unfold and reveal itself. Feltmaking has its challenges, but it’s deeply rewarding to see each creation take shape.
I love to ‘paint’ with wool tops, building up layers of fibres to create rich, jewel-toned depths.
It can take many hours to ‘lay out’ a design and when it is complete, the wet felting begins. A little soap and warm water is added, pressure is applied through rubbing and rolling and the transformation begins!
As the fibres mat together, the resulting fabric is worked vigorously to strengthen and shrink it. Once the wet felting process is complete and the picture has dried, I don't add any additional details and definitely no stitching. I love how the work is completed in one fell swoop!
I’m lucky to have my work in many private collections in the UK and abroad including Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia. I also have several pieces on display at Charlotte Church’s retreat centre: The Dreaming, nestled in mid Wales.
My work has been featured in several national and International magazines, including Homespun (Australia), Donna Moderna (Italy), HZG (Netherlands) and Be Creative with Workbox (UK).
Through feltmaking, I’m able to share my love for natural materials and the beauty of handmade art with people around the world. Each piece I create is an expression of creativity and tradition, crafted with care and intention. I’m truly grateful to be part of this ancient art form and to have my work appreciated by so many. Thank you for joining me on this creative journey — I hope my pieces bring as much joy to others as they bring to me.