Rebecca Cardwell

About Me

My Background

My Inspiration

My Background

My father is an artist and had a studio in Liverpool, where I grew up, and so from a very early age I was interested in all aspects of art.

Growing up in the city wasn't at all easy but my home life with my mother was wonderfully unconventional and I was always amazed to see what she would re-use and recycle which has become the main theme of my work.

My Medium

My Inspiration

My Background

My medium has changed over time to a more contemporary feel; a lot of my work has been centred around the Leeds Liverpool Canal. I have begun to experiment more with rope structures and larger scale installations. My rope work is inspired by old traditions of making it by hand. The first piece that I worked on was called Fender Knots.

My Inspiration

I'm inspired by stories from the Leeds Liverpool Canal and how life was for the working boatmen and women. This work, The Old Life Ring, is about the old and the new. I like the contrast of the natural wave in the ropes, the way they mimic the waves on the water. The ropes also remind me of horses tails which were of course a common feature of the canals in the bygone days when working boat community's were reliant on, and proud, of there horses.