Helen Heery

My fascination for batik was encouraged from an early age by my uncle, who was living in East Malaysia, and regularly sent over lengths of batik fabric. During a 2 year journey around the Far East, I stopped on the travellers trail and did a weeks course in batik in Java. I collected many sarong lengths of vibrant abstract batik that was then the fashion in Java. It was several years later that I discovered evening classes in the technique but once started I haven't stopped.

Over the past 10 years I have developed my love for textiles into a small business selling batik scarf designs, silk scarves and ties, hand-made cards and larger pictures through galleries and craft exhibitions. I enjoy experimenting with pattern and colour and always use the highest quality fabrics to enhance the designs. I especially like working with the combination of ferrous sulphate, K-salt and indigo dyes with silk and silk-velvet to give beautiful natural shades of gold, plum, tan and blue. I also enjoy experimenting with batik on paper and have developed a collection of floral designs on Chinese paper, which I sell as hand-made cards and larger mounted pieces.

Working as a part-time teacher has allowed me to develop my business in many areas, including contributing to books on batik. I also teach batik free-lance in primary and secondary schools and run courses at my studio in North London. Future courses and a list of my up and coming craft exhibitions can be seen through the exhibitions link.