Published on 1st October 2022

So, who’s this then? 

 Amy Sinclair, a young artist from Mannings Heath. As well as drawing wildlife in a fine art style, Amy makes silk scarves that incorporate her art.

Let’s start with the drawings then…

 As a child, Amy loved animals and would draw them on the walls of her home, much to her parent’s chagrin. She recalls her mum once trying to swat a fly she’d drawn, although Amy suspects that might have been a form of gentle encouragement! She said: ‘Eventually, mum was so annoyed about me drawing everywhere that she designated a section of wall for doodling. I usually drew animals from books, but I also loved Disney films like 101 Dalmatians, and would draw my favourite characters.’

And she pursued this interest?

 At college, Amy developed a talent for textile design and developed her fine art and photography skills too. However, when it came to her career, the well-intentioned advice of family and friends influenced her decision making, and Amy chose to embark on a teacher training course...

I’m guessing by the dots that it didn’t end well?

Amy eventually dropped out of the course, realising that teaching wasn’t her true calling. She said: ‘It was a dark period in my life. I suffered with depression and anxiety, and there were times when I really doubted myself as an artist. But once I’d decided not to pursue a career in education, I put everything into my art. Even if it didn’t work out, at least I would have tried.’

Back to the drawing board then...

Amy regained confidence as an artist and focused on her time-consuming, highly-detailed drawings of animals, making them available as originals, limited-edition prints, and cards. Many are in black and white on a plain background, similar in concept to established artists like Gary Hodges, and the wildlife of Africa and Asia features prominently. Amy said: ‘Some of my drawings are of endangered species, such as the lynx and tiger, as I want to highlight how important it is to look after our wildlife.’ 

How did the crossover with textiles come about?

Amy first explored the idea during a textiles project. She researched designers creating ‘wearable art’ and began to develop her own ideas for marrying art and fabric. She was also fascinated by wallpaper designs and this interest can also be seen in her silk scarves. There’s a lot of detail in the patterns, but the designs need to be more than just pretty; they need to be cleverly designed too, due to the many ways they can be worn. 

Just wrap around the neck, don’t they?

There are countless ways in which silk can be used. It can be worn the classic way around the neck, or tied in a French knot. It can be employed as a head scarf (as The Queen often liked to), utilised as a bag strap or adapted as a hair bow. Amy said: ‘There are hundreds of ways you can use ia silk scarf. I wear fabrics one way one day and the next employ it in a completely different way, to the extent people wouldn’t even realise it’s the same item. This means that designing them is complicated, as you need to think about where to position patterns and pictures. If it features a horse, there’s no good positioning it so that the half a head will be hidden in a French knot. Also, patterns must run along the edges to give balance. You need to think both creatively and practically to make it work.’

Sounds complicated…

Amy’s textiles often feature several hundred different Photoshop layers, with pictures, colours and patterns, which are all then condensed and printed on to fabric. 

Does it have to be silk?

Not only does colour translate very well on silk (compared to materials like polyester) it also makes the scarves a luxury product. On silk, colours even maintain vibrancy on the reverse side. Amy said: ‘I will spend two or three months on one drawing, so after putting in all that hard work, I wouldn’t want to transfer the images on to a cheap material where it loses quality. That would be disrespecting the work I’ve put in.’

What animals does she draw? 

Cranes, horses, lions, butterflies, elephants and many more  feature in her work. The scarves usually have an element of contrast, with black and white drawings enhanced by surrounding colours and patterns. Amy said: ‘As I’m passionate about wildlife, it’s natural to make them the focus of my work. One collection has an ‘Asia meets Africa’ theme and if you study closely, you’ll see the shape of the continents in the design.’

These are scarves with a message then...

Amy actually names each piece and they come with a card with an inspiring message. She hopes buyers interpret the meaning in their own way. She said: ‘The fashion industry has a way of dictating how women should look and this can cause a lack of confidence or even contribute to eating disorders. The fashion industry - and society in general - needs to be more accepting of our differences. I want to make a small difference through my work. If I call a piece ‘Unlocking Your Dreams’ and one person feels valued when they put the scarf on, then that’s a result for me, as it reflects how I feel when I wear a luxury item.’

These are luxury products then?

Amy said: ‘It is possible to buy silk scarves for £50, but they are usually made cheaply in Asia and my products are designed, sewn and printed in the UK. I don’t want to contribute to the negative environmental impact of fast fashion.’

Where are her products available? 

Art prints and cards are available on Amy’s Etsy page, as well as local outlets including Camelia Botnar in Cowfold, New House Farm in Horsham and Stone Baked Co in Slinfold. The scarves are a new product and Amy is still building a website to sell them through, while also approaching fashion boutiques in London and the south-east. 

Does Amy plan to extend the range? 

She might create a range of kimonos and hair scrunchies! She continues to enjoy drawing too and is currently working on several commissions of pet and wildlife pictures. After a long and sometimes difficult journey, Amy says she’s now in a good place. ‘For too long, I listened to what others thought I should do. I wish I could speak to my younger self and say, “follow your heart!” Trust in your instincts and you’ll be happier for it.’

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS

PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT

Further information: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmySinclairDesign