Nicky Brier Designs

I hand needle felt with vibrant coloured wool to create distinctive and tactile art and one-of-a-kind brooches that reflect my observations of shapes, textures and colours found in nature.

Growing up in the 70's in a household of creators and makers, I spent much of my childhood playing with Fuzzy Felt kits, snipping up bits of fabric and learning to sew with the help of my mum and grandma. That love of fabric led to a degree in woven textiles and a varied career in the textile and wallcovering industry, which added to my passion for colour and design.

My family and I love the outdoors and regularly visit the Lake District from our home on the edge of the Peak District. My children have grown up with their school holidays spent camping, fell walking and exploring the Lakes with our ever-faithful black Labrador.

Birds and flowers are the main subjects of my artwork which I make into stylised forms with a folk-art feel. To create my artwork, I start with roving wool which I hand needle felt with a singular needle and embellish with embroidery stitches after edging with metal zip detailing. The elements are all created individually and then mounted on card at different levels to add extra depth and dimension to each finished piece.