The natural colour of the wool ranges from black to pale grey, from brown to cream. Yellow, gold and green dyes come from plants on the farm, others needing a hotter climate, indigo, madder, henna and pomegranate, from herb and spice merchants. Dye pots feature regularly in the process and other dyes are used in the production of textiles requiring consistent colour. There is a lengthy route from hand shearing to finished piece, and after sorting the wool is commissioned out for spinning, different specifications for rugs, blankets and throws, and for hand knitting.

In weaving, these yarns are combined with others, sourced over time, including handspun yarns from Oman produced by nomadic herders of sheep and goats. Camel hair is used for the warp, also Irish or Scandinavian linen.

Designs develop from the structure of weave itself, and are informed by ideas emerging from life as lived, in dialogue with my inner world. Put another way, the work comes from a strong attachment to specific place, my experience as a shepherd, and underpinned by my early education in art and design.

My textiles are made in the context of work with land, hedgerow, woodland, habitat conservation and garden. This is contemporary work, rooted in tradition.