Irene Belcher

Biography

Irene began her artistic life in South Yorkshire studying Graphic Art at Doncaster Art College. She went on to work in Advertising and Design in Manchester and Leeds. She developed a career in full colour illustration and has had many successful exhibitions of watercolours. Irene moved into textile art in Hampshire around 2000. She has an HNC in Contemporary Art Practice which she turned into a first class honours Degree in Textiles and Sculpture in 2022 at Chichester University. She has spent the last twenty years involved with narrow boats and canal exploration, being inspired in her art by water, mud, natural and industrial scenes, found artefacts and their social significance.

Artist’s Statement

I find inspiration in eclectic areas: The Northern coalfields and mills, local canals, domestic drudgery items and my mother’s life both in service and on the stage. I have found the division of money quite shocking and the wealth created through slavery, evil. I see marks made through agency and disintegration, features of texture and light describing a sense of place that appear through drawing and mark making observation. I use printing, hand and machine stitch, applique, recycled fabrics, weaving and rag rugging, dye and paint. Whatever answers my inspired requirements.