From coarse cliff formations to organic seaweed imagery, ‘The Tactile Coast’ is a collection of surface designs inspired by textures found along the shoreline. Sheer fabrics are deconstructed to expose layers of intricate warp and weft, whilst materials are manipulated, pleated and embellished to produce a decorative surface structure.

My textile designs throughout this project aim to recall the commonplace feelings and sensory imagery of the coastline, with markings and colours drawn from the subdued tones and patterns of the coastal environment.

These manipulated surfaces are juxtaposed with discarded fishing nets found on walks along the beach. Named ‘ghost nets’, these synthetic materials have been lost or abandoned by fishermen, left to wash up – often entangled amongst the seaweed and rocky shore. I endeavoured to utilise these found nets as an alternative to embroidery yarns, highlighting compositional design patterns whilst simultaneously emphasising the extent of plastic waste in the ocean.