Designer of the Month

Abigail Brown


Abigail Brown’s forensic studies of birds seen in Britain are made using recycled fabric, on a hand built, stuffed frame. We have worked with Abigail for over two years now and her birds have been one of our best selling collections. The exquisite detailing and personality she manages to give each one has to be seen to be believed.

We have also just added seven new species to the collection...











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Five minutes with Abigail Brown:


What inspires you?


Everything and anything; nature, fashion, illustration, graphic design, animation, costume...all throughout the ages. I collect children's books from here and other countries. I find the illustrations in them very inspiring for my work. My background is in illustration so often that it where my work will begin.


I am inspired by other artists around me, not necessarily working in the same field, but the mediums they use, or the subject matter: how they give life to their ideas. Anyone who brave enough to explore their own ideas is an inspiration to me.


What’s your starting point?


I go from a simple sketching stage straight into fabric. Working from a simple template I sew the basic pieces on the machine. I then insert a wire piece to give structure, leading from the beak to form the legs and feet. The next stage is stuffing, which is a lengthy process. It takes a lot of work to stuff the body sufficiently to form and sculpt the shape properly.


Then I work with the fabric scraps to build up layers of feathers, selecting the right tones and colours, feathering each piece as I cut it to size. These pieces are stuck with glue and then worked into by hand, stitching tiny stitches in black to detail the bird and bring it to life.


Can you describe your studio at Cockpit Arts?


Most of the time you will find it a mess! I've never been able to tidy as I go along! I have a wall of boxes with store all my fabrics in colour order. I love seeing the patterns and colours through the clear boxes! It's very satisfying!


I have a display wall for any creations that are back in the studio or sitting waiting to fly out, and photos that document the birds that have been created to date. I also have lots of bits! Beautiful containers, inspiring objects, precious things I have been given, jars of buttons (also in colour order!), my 1970's beige and green Bernina that I LOVE.


What’s your ideal gift you’d like to receive?


I’m still hankering after a beautiful ring from my favourite jeweller Ruth Tomlinson.