Biography
Heather Belcher (b. Nottingham, UK 1960) trained in textiles at Goldsmiths' College, London (1983-95). Her work explores hand made felting processes incorporating techniques that include hand knitting, printing and also drawing directly with loose wool fibres to create images in the fabric. She is interested in the materiality of felt. Its physical texture is important, reminiscent of leather or parchment it could perhaps be regarded as a metaphor for skin or paper. Traditionally it has connections to early body coverings which Heather draws upon in her images of clothing to explore issues of concealment, identity and the duality of absence and presence. She held solo exhibitions at The London Crafts Fair, Somerset House (2008); Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery, London (2008 and 2005); 1999 Cloth, Bankfield Textile Museum, Halifax (1999); Southern Arts Touring Show and the Winchester Gallery (1992) Crafts Council Shop, Victoria & Albert Museum (1992) and regularlyexhibits at the Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery, London, Ruthin Craft Centre, North Wales and with the 62 Group of textile artists.
