Hilary Richardson
I was brought up in a family with a tradition of home crafts and I don't remember learning to sew or how to use a sewing machine. My mother made a lot of our clothes and I needed to do this for myself while a student in the sixties. My first piece of hexagon patchwork was made at this time. I trained and worked as a scientist but realised a childhood ambition to become a potter when my children started school. I still make domestic and commemorative pieces.
I renewed my interest in patchwork in the mid eighties and taught all levels from City and Guilds to beginners. I joined the Quilters Guild in 1988 and was International Representative from 1998 to 2001.
Exhibition successes include judge's choice at Hever in 1998 and Winner of the Sue Ridgewell Bowl in 1999. My quilts have been shown around the world in selected exhibitions including The Quilters Guild of the British Isles 7th National Exhibition “Under the Covers” and the Guild of Devon Craftsmen “Rise and Shine”. Katharine Guerrier featured my quilt “Scattered Lasers” in her book “Quilting Masterclass”. The Quilters' Guild asked me to make a quilt for 'The Quilters Guild Collection' book. This quilt is 'Rural Rape' influenced by the Bible quilt in the Guild's collection and inspired by my bees being killed by inappropriate crop spraying.
My quilts are statements about myself and my concern for the environment or experiments with traditional techniques. Ideally a piece will combine both. The driving force in my work is the finished effect and not the technique. The techniques used will be influenced by a personal need for accuracy and neatness. Working in series, particularly when exploring a technique, allows me to experiment and satisfy the “what if” questions. Colour is very important and I prefer to use fabrics I have dyed and/or treated myself, giving me infinite choice. The computer has been useful for design and printing and I expect that the possibilities of computer technology have much to offer me. I am enjoying the exploration into an art form and future experiments will include combining clay with textiles and more three dimensional work.
I do not expect people to like my work but hope to make them think about the subject I have chosen.