Georgina Hickey

I have been printing textiles for 7 years; since 2015. My favourite technique is screen-printing; using both exposed imaged and simple stencils made with newsprint.

Q&A

What craft do you work with?

I have been printing textiles for 7 years; since 2015. My favourite technique is screen-printing; using both exposed imaged and simple stencils made with newsprint.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

As a tactile person, the fact that you can experience the texture of the textiles while also appreciating the design is what drew me to the craft. I also appreciate the cross-over of aesthetic and functionality. I am passionate about the benefits of a well-decorated home to personal wellbeing and how adorning the surface of every-day items can make us happier and feel more connected to our homes and environments.
The history of textiles is interwoven with economy, identity and even language. It has been said that the harsh, distinctive sounds of the local dialect in Dundee, Scotland came to be as they were easier for the workers to hear over the load machinery in the jute mills. Furthermore, unique tartan designs identified the clans of Scotland, and embroidered tapestries have passed down our stories for centuries. Printed textiles specifically played an iconic part in the Arts and Crafts movement of the 1800s; which paved the way for craft professionals to this day.

How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?

I have had a lot of workspaces that have all been quite different from each other, but generally I like having a lot of materials and space as I don’t like feeling restricted when I’m being creative or making my products. I can’t live without squared paper – I’m obsessed with geometric shapes and straight lines and so it’s the best for working out compositions. Also, as any screen-printer will tell you; masking tape is vital.

Are there new techniques you would like to try?

Within printed textiles, I would love to experiment with cyanotype and more widely, it would be great to explore rug tufting.

What have you learnt or the best advice you have received that you would like to share with fellow crafters?

The best advice I have received was in my portfolio preparation course – “learn the rules, then break the rules”. Personally, I think it’s perfect for craft professionals as it’s so important to learn and perfect your skills but then you want to create something unique and establish your own style. If we want our craft to keep expanding, you have to push boundaries.

What other types of craft do you dream of collaborating with?

I would love to collaborate with ceramics; it also brings together aesthetic and functionality, like textiles.

What professional dream do you have?

A professional dream of mine is to create interior accessories for a boutique hotel. I love the idea of my textiles contributing to someone’s experience of luxury and I believe hotels are the perfect place to utilise bold interior design.