UK artist wants to put name to man in L’Ancresse scene
AN UNKNOWN Guernsey man in the back of a landscape photograph became the inspiration for a free-motion applique style piece of textile art after a UK artist visited the island last year.
Carol Dawson, from North Yorkshire, was visiting her daughter and grandchildren in Guernsey last October when the gentleman and his dog appeared in one of her photographs from L’Ancresse.
‘I love Guernsey, and visit as often as possible to see my daughter and grandchildren who live there. I was with them when I saw this gentleman at L’Ancresse quite happily enjoying the sunshine and with his dog by his side,’ said Mrs Dawson.
‘Was he waiting for ice cream or a table at the cafe for afternoon tea? I am curious to know, and would like to see his reaction when he sees himself depicted in fabric. Even just to know his name.’
The image of the man and dog on the sea wall struck Mrs Dawson, and when she returned to her home in the UK, she threaded up her sewing machine to create the quilted 22x33inch piece of art.
‘I am a people watcher and usually carry a sketchbook and camera with me to capture people going about their daily life, but I rarely get to know who the people are,’ she said.
‘It would be nice to find out who the man in the photo is.’
Mrs Dawson has long dabbled in various art forms, but creating art with textiles is a relatively new skill. Upon retirement, she started art classes, and has since applied those skills to textile creations.
‘Once I have the photo or sketch I draw it out on to fabric. Then I choose the fabrics and cut the required shapes,’ she explained.
‘Fabrics are a selection of recycled, hand painted, or commercial printed. The pieces are stitched in place using free-motion machine stitching. Wadding and backing fabric are added and quilted through all layers. This art quilt will be in an exhibition in February at Richmond, North Yorks.’
n More of Mrs Dawson’s art can be found on Instagram @Spottersmoll. Mrs Dawson has asked anyone who knows the man in the picture to get in touch.
