Rowan Shepherd

Outback Heirlooms

Currently entering her final year studying Textile Design at university, Rowan channels her passion for painting and drawing into her textile work, using both thread and a sewing machine. Her practice is rooted in realism, inspired by the natural world and often incorporates unconventional influences to create distinctive projects.

Inspired by the world of marsupials, Rowan reimagines the pouch as a bag in her collection, drawing on these animals for both imagery and colour palette. Her work is brought to life through visits to museum archives and her mother’s antique collection, with taxidermy emerging as a recurring theme throughout her designs. Primarily working in free-motion machine embroidery, Rowan meticulously builds texture to capture realism in her animal-inspired pieces.

Mentor: Julie Heaton

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