Lucy Craig is a 27 year old Textile Artist, working in the community doing projects and running workshops. She is from Ballymena, but now lives in Ahogholl.
Her professional practice preserves our heritage onto textiles, combined with hand embroidery. This can range from family history, memories, keepsakes, memorabhilia to regional heritage.
Lucy studied Textile Design, Art and Fashion course in Ulster.
What genre / style do you create in?
Textiles/artwork, layering up old documents, letters, photographs for example to preserve our past. Using fundamental skills to also showcase this. For example hand embroidering over the top of work to show detail and make the work more personal.
What would you be best known for?
Liam Neeson chair/Community Work.
What would you consider your biggest achievement?
2018 and 2019 finalist for N. I Young Artist of the Year. Also various community project which I have been very proud of.
What would you consider to be the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your industry?
Consistency.
Having to be consistent with social media, new products, variety and times may be busier during the year, so lack of consistency if you were to have it as your primary source of income.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Covid, in terms of community work. Miss this time meeting new people, I have a full-time job in a school as Art and H.E technician so I am very grateful but I do miss the projects that normally run this time of year
Tell us a little about your personal life, are you married, kids, hobbies etc?
I love to escape to my studio or go to the gym. This is my wind down time. I also like to cook and spend my time with family and friends. Love making memories and holidaying. I live with my partner and work as an Art and H.E Technician in a local secondary school which I love.
Tell us about your most recent work?
Most recent work has been a memory cushion I made to showcase all the letters and cards my Dad had sent me. He will be past 13 years next month.
I wanted to try and show examples through my own work of how someone could have this special piece made for them. It was a lovely touch and thoroughly enjoyed bringing the piece to life with hand embroidery.
I also have made a few framed pieces of local places. One called, “over Harryville Bridge” with interesting photos, maps etc. The other is “Harryville Garages” and the last is “Church Street.” I look forward to sharing these too.
What would you like us to tell people about?
Potential for new ranges. I have found lovely Portrush programmes that I would like to create into a unique piece of work. I can be commissioned to create bespoke framed pieces, cushions, document wallets or simply the fabric for upholstery. These can include old maps, deeds of house, marriage certificates, photographs, letters, Postcards, kids drawings, keepsakes, memorabhilia, programmes, tickets. Just to name a few.
Anyone that may be interested in a collaboration get in touch. Or if you simply have unique documents/old keepsakes that you want to be preserved let me know
If you had to describe your work to someone who has never heard of you what would you say?
Preserving our family history and our heritage onto textiles, through the use of digital printing and hand embroidery.
What’s the funniest experience you’ve had in your business?
I would say it’s the journey my work takes me on which normally results in strange coincidences and meeting people that make me think, “goodness it’s such a small world” or “this was totally meant to be”
What would your advice be to young people hoping to pursue the same industry?
Never give up your passion but always have something alongside that keeps you financially sustained and that you also enjoy. I would also strongly reccomend to network as much and often as possible. You don’t know what opportunity or person will lead you to next. Try and always remain positive and optimistic.
“I am the Master of my thoughts, I am the Captain of my Soul”
Anything else you want to tell people about yourself or your work?
Checkout my website Lucy Craig Textile Artist and my Instagram lucycraig13 to see what I have been up to during these strange times
Who do you look up to and why?
Probably my Mum, she has taught me to be resilient and to never stop doing what makes me happy. She has always been my role model.
You can see more of Lucy’s work at Lucy Craig Textile Artist on Facebook; @lucycraig13 on Instagram or on her webiste https://www.lucycraigtextileartist.co.uk/