Caught on the Wire – Lesley Wood

A blue tit bird is seen trying to collect nesting material, hovering above pieces of wool caught on barbed wire.

Caught On The Wire celebrates a very common sight in the British countryside. Pieces of a sheep’s fleece snagged on barbed wire left to flutter in the breeze. It is unlikely to be collected by humans but a sort after nesting material for birds such as the Blue Tit in this picture. The background fabrics are woollen chosen for their natural earthy colours and are an example of how man can create beautiful fabrics from this natural material. The dyed green Wensleydale curly wool locks suggest the textures and colours of a rural landscape. Pieces of wool caught on the barbed wire and drifting in the breeze provide a little extra drama to the scene.

Hand embroidered bird using sewing threads onto woollen upholstery and tweed fabrics. Dyed wensleydale curly wool locks and pieces of varnish treated barbed wire couched to the base cloths. Pieces of natural wool tops needlefelted to the picture to create a mixed media fabric collage.