I have always had a passion for the combination of traditional materials with modern design so when I first came across the unique work of textile designer, Deborah Toner almost a year ago I was keen to find out more about her range. This week I asked her what inspires her work, and what her plans are for the future.
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| Belfast City Hall Cushion |
Created from traditionally woven Irish linen and her own architectural drawings, Deborah Toner handcrafts a range of stunning cushions and panels that celebrate the heritage of the Northern Irish textile industry as well as Belfast as a modern urban space.
"I studied Architecture at university yet it was only while working towards my Masters that I discovered I could use different media to express my ideas." says Deborah. "I have always had a big interest in textiles and studying in the Art College in Belfast made it easier for me to explore different ideas. I began by making a series of maps which went along with my Thesis. The Ulster Museum bought these from me and I think that’s when I realised I could maybe take my methods and ideas further."
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| Belfast Listed Buildings Panel |
Having been developed from her initial university pieces, Deborah's current maps provide a wonderful snapshot of urban landscapes and, through the use of different colours and textures, highlight the layers of the city that have built up over time. Her map showing Belfast's listed buidings (above) evokes a sense of the layering of the past with each green block representing one of the city's historical landmarks.
"I am inspired by architecture and the built environment around us [yet] I love that something as precise as an architectural drawing or map can be made into something soft, luxurious and tactile. My work has a lot of unique qualities. I try not to make the same thing twice."
To ensure that each of her pieces is unique, Deborah continually switches between different linen types and thread colours ensuring that each image becomes an indivudual re-presentation of her initial drawing. Through her use of machine stitching, her images also appear to show the
ubiquitous movement of the urban landscape whilst at the same time
capturing an immediate, fleeting moment of time through the sense of light and
space.
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| Albert Clock (unfinished) |
Since completing her Masters a couple of years ago, Deborah has been selling her work at St. George’s Sunday Market as well as through different shops, some of which she has created bespoke ranges for. She also takes commissions saying: "I think my work sparks an idea in people’s minds and is nice to work along with them to create what they want."
You can find out more about Deborah Toner at:
Twitter: twitter.com/TonerDeborah
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Deborah-Toner/
Online: deborahtoner.co.uk
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