Textile artists at Craft Co

Jean Constantine creates decorative felt artworks inspired by the animals and birds of the Suffolk countryside.  

 

Working primarily with wool and other natural fibres, her handmade pieces celebrate the textures and colours of the natural world. Delicate hand embroidery is often added as a final embellishment, bringing extra detail and character to each work. Jean’s thoughtful approach and appreciation of nature result in textile pieces that are both tactile and expressive. 

Honorary Member Jean Fryer takes inspiration from the Suffolk countryside and coastline to create atmospheric textile panels. 

 

Using layers of fine chiffons, silk gauzes and other fabrics, she builds subtle shifts in colour and tone that resemble washes of watercolour paint. Machine embroidery is used to secure and enhance the fabrics, while occasional digitally printed elements and text add further depth and interest. Her work captures the beauty of the landscape through delicate layering and a sensitive use of colour and often incorporates the joy of the outside. 

New member Alex Waylett combines her illustrative background with sculptural machine embroidery to create work inspired by marine life and coastal environments. 

 

Her intricate stitched shells, sea creatures and still-life studies are often displayed alongside delicate watercolour illustrations, creating richly textured pieces full of detail and movement. Sustainability plays an important role in her practice, with reclaimed materials, found objects and sea-worn treasures incorporated into many works. Her current collection, Home, explores the relationship between marine habitats and human-made debris found along our shores. 

Val Jarvis creates distinctive rugs using the heritage craft of Locker Hooking, a traditional technique that uses a specialised hook to create richly textured and durable designs. 

 

Committed to sustainability, she repurposes materials such as velvet curtains, denim, upholstery fabrics and unwanted clothing, transforming them into beautiful functional pieces. Inspired by the colours and textures of the natural world, particularly the sea and surrounding landscape, Val allows each design to evolve organically as she works. Her rugs reflect a lifelong passion for creativity, craftsmanship and finding new value in discarded materials.