Introduction

Early slate explorations

Wrapped in Cold Hard Comfort marks a pivotal moment in my practice and its ongoing move into sculptural form. The work challenges traditional ideas of textiles as soft, pliable, and domestic by using non-conventional materials that resist these assumptions. 

I work with slate a material defined by its weight, density, and resistance. Stitching into this unyielding surface deliberately contrasts with the comfort typically associated with quilting and fabric, confronting both the physical limits of the body and the invisible burdens we carry. 

This resistance reflects the daily pushback experienced by those living with chronic illness, disability, or ongoing adversity. Each stitch becomes an act of care and defiance, acknowledging the quiet endurance required simply to persist. 

Rather than framing resilience as recovery or transformation, this work reimagines softness and comfort as something altered and hard-won. Wrapped in Cold Hard Comfort recognises that comfort can constrain, softness can erode, and survival often takes the form of steady, ongoing persistence. 

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