Valerie Wartelle

Valérie is a fine artist working with fibres and textiles. Her practice is rooted in the traditional craft of wet felting and the manipulation of textiles and fibres as an expressive art form. Valérie studied Textile Design at Huddersfield Polytechnic, and following a career as a knitwear designer, set up her art studio in 2014 in Yorkshire. Valérie is a QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) scholar. She regularly exhibits throughout the UK and has work held in private collections in the UK, EU and USA.

Describe your approach to teaching
Process has always been central to my practice, giving me the knowledge and confidence to be curious, take chances and harness happy accidents. I am keen to enable you to explore your own creative approach, whilst developing your knowledge of textile materials and wet felting techniques.

What inspires your own work?
My work explores the deeply rooted emotional and sensory connections we hold with nature. By reimagining the landscape using natural fibres - wool, silk, linen - and the ancient craft of wet felting, I invite viewers on an inquisitive and nurturing journey.