Hand painted silk scarves...

I adore painting on silk. Every piece produced is completely unique as the techniques and processes to move the dyes make it impossible to repeat. The colours are incredibly vibrant; I use Dupont steam fixed dyes which are superb quality and imported from France. Pure silk is easy to care for; rinse in cool water with a natural soap if required, air dry away from direct sunlight and iron with a cool setting while still slightly damp. If the scarf has some embellishment then iron on the reverse side. Dyes are fixed by the steaming method and then the scarves are rinsed till the water runs clear. Silks are 100% pure and are either habotai in different weights, crepe de chine or silk satin in a range of rectangles and squares.

I use different techniques to obtain the results, sometimes dying twice to get the depth of colours and amazing designs. Shibori or Tie dye as it sometimes is called, is Japanese in origin and often used for indigo dyes. It incorporates twisting, stitching, tying, pleating and folding the fabric before applying dyes. Arashi (meaning "Storm") Shibori is when the silk is wrapped diagonally around a pole, then bound with string and pushed up like an accordion before adding dyes; I like to twice dye the silk using this method to get interesting depths of contrast.

Salt is used to manipulate the dyes when painting on a stretched flat surface which offers endless possibilities. I think three or four colours is sufficient to use in each scarf to keep it clean, vibrant and attractive, easy to match with an outfit or as a stand alone accessory.

Wearable art clothing in lustrous silk is a wonderful gift for yourself or someone else.