MEET OUR MAKERS

ELIN THOMAS

Textile Artist / Arlunydd Tecstil

Elin Thomas is a textile artist and painter based in Blaenavon, she has both a BA(Hons) and MA in Fine Art, studying at UWE and Bath Spa University respectively.

Elin creates hand-crafted objects with an emphasis on small-scale and intricately stitched nature studies. The focus of each one-of-a-kind work is on lichens, fungi and moulds. These pieces are based on close observation but avoid the limitations of botanical modelling in favour of colour and composition and a playful interpretation of these miniature worlds. The principle craft techniques are freeform crochet, hand embroidery and felt construction. The use of natural fibres is vital with some elements being hand-dyed and hand-felted.

Elin has worked with several museums and scientific organisations through residencies, to create bespoke commissions and publicly engaged projects. Elins’ textile art is in the permanent collections of the Science Museum, London and The Natural History Museum, Oxford. Her work is in numerous private collections across the globe and has been featured in several magazines and textile publications.