Jacqueline Milton

From an early age, drawing captured my imagination and set the foundation for a lifelong love of visual creativity. At college I hoped to become a cartographer or illustrator, but my path took a fortunate turn when I became a designer for Axminster Carpets in Devon. Those early years were the equivalent of an apprenticeship, giving me a deep understanding of pattern, colour and craftsmanship. My passion for textiles has continued to grow, particularly through creating hand‑felted wall panels using merino fleece and silks. The wet‑felting process is wonderfully tactile and offers enormous freedom, allowing me to build rich surfaces and expressive forms. I often embellish pieces with beads or stitching to highlight details such as the anthers of a flower, adding dimension and focus to the design. Felting has encouraged me to explore new ways of expressing my art, especially through experimenting with blocks of colour that often influence my other creative work. Inspiration comes from the world around me, but flowers remain a constant source of joy and ideas. Alongside my felted pieces, I also paint patterns that are developed by manufacturers into fabrics for the home, extending my love of colour and pattern into everyday living spaces.