ONE TO WATCH
Studio Madder
Q Tell us a little bit about your background?
I studied at Edinburgh College of Art and went on to work in the interiors and creative industry in London for six years. I’ve been interested in natural dye for a while and in 2019 when I went freelance, I was able to enrol on a course with Zoe Burt at Morley College. I fell in love with the process and Studio Madder has organically grown from then on. →
Q Where do you look to find inspiration? My natural surroundings are a constant source of inspiration, that’s one of the reasons I moved out of the city and to Wales. I read a lot of blogs by natural dyers, there is an amazing global community of dyers who are happy to share their findings – in particular Jenny Dean, whose book Wild Colour has been a bible to me as I’ve learnt about natural dye. In terms of artists or designers, it’s hard to pinpoint just a few – but I love the work of Ellsworth Kelly and Rothko.
Q Can you explain your technique and the different pieces of equipment you use?
There are key stages that I follow when preparing fabric: washing, scouring and mordanting. These ensure the fabric can absorb as much of the dye as possible. I make my dye baths out of foraged plants and flowers, as well as food waste. I’ve got bags and containers full of onion skins and avocado stones. It’s very rewarding to use something that would otherwise go in the bin to create colour! My equipment comprises of four ceramic heatplates, stainless-steel pots, bowls, spoons, sieves and a host of different recycled containers that I keep the dyes I’ve made in.
Q How has your work evolved over time?
The final canvas pieces are still in their infancy and just one aspect of Studio Madder. I’m excited to see where I can take my work, but my knowledge and skills as a natural dyer are constantly growing and evolving with each experiment. There are so many factors that influence the final result; location, season and quantity of dye material.
Q Tell us a bit more about your studio?
I’ve moved around a lot in the last two years. My studio started on the kitchen table of a flat in Brixton, it then moved to Malawi in Africa and then to Anglesey in Wales. Plans to find a permanent studio have been put on hold due to Covid-19, so currently I work in the garden and out of the back of my van!
Q Advice for someone wanting to explore natural dying?
Get outside and go foraging, keep your food waste and experiment. Be mindful when out foraging, don’t take too much and check what you’re picking – some things are poisonous. I’d recommend doing a workshop as a great way to learn the basic steps.
“I’M CURRENTLY COLLABORATING WITH MILLINER IONA MONTGOMERY ON LIMITED-EDITION, NATURAL-DYED TURBANS”