Zoe Lewthwaite's artistic practice is rooted in the tranquility of the Llŷn Peninsula. A lifelong passion for drawing, ignited at age two, continues to drive her creative journey, where she now works as an independent artist and textile printmaker from her new studio in Llanbedrog, following several years based at Aberuchaf Craft Centre in Abersoch, north Wales.
After receiving a First Class Honours degree in Textile Design from the Manchester School of Art in 2016, along with two awards upon graduation, Zoe has further developed her experience as a textile artist. She has refined her textile printmaking while deepening her connection to the local landscape and coastline, both of which inspire and provide materials for her eco-conscious work.
Zoe experiments with natural pigments and primarily uses natural fibres, aligning her practice with her commitment to sustainability.
Through her practice, she celebrates the healing qualities of art, offering a personal yet meaningful exploration of the imperfect and the organic. Her process begins with spontaneous ink and charcoal drawings on large rolls of paper, encouraging fluidity and embracing imperfections that often lead to her most treasured pieces.
Her passion for screen-printing enables her to transfer these raw, expressive drawings onto textiles, where the brushstrokes and painterly marks from her original drawings are preserved, becoming a defining feature of her work and an embodiment of her connection to place and process.
THE WORK: 'Y BWRDD'
‘the table’ speaks to the rituals of gathering. It is more than just a surface — it is a space of creation, where presence and atmosphere intertwine with voices, emotions, and curated visual landscapes. It is a place to share, learn, absorb and embrace, where connections are formed and stories are exchanged. The physical objects that decorate the space - the setting, the arrangement - play a part in this ritual, contributing to the act of creating the presence of a space. Over time, the table transcends its physical form, becoming a symbol of tradition, connection and the enduring nature of these rituals.
‘the table’ is an installation exploring memory, creation, and the act of gathering. Inspired by her earliest recollection of drawing at the dinner table; absorbed in drawing on napkins, newspapers, or any scrap of paper available. The work reflects on the table as more than just a place to eat - it is a canvas in all forms.
Rooted in personal nostalgia, the installation is inspired by the sensory experience of home — the rich aroma of spices filling the kitchen, the distant murmur of cooking shows playing in the background. Visually, it recalls the sight of flour-dusted countertops, pages of her mother's well-worn cookbooks scattered across the kitchen, each page covered in handwritten notes and adaptations. These moments, grounded particularly in her mother’s presence and the rituals of cooking, became a source of comfort and connection.
Over the years, gatherings around a table extended beyond the kitchen. Whether at family meals or with friends in various spaces, the concept of the table remained unchanged - a place where connections are deepened, new ones are made, ideas are exchanged, and memories are formed. Conversations shifted with time - joy, laughter, discussions, debates, and moments of quiet reflection, all happening around the same idea of a table, whether at home or elsewhere.
This installation invites viewers to reflect on experiences of gathering, where the table becomes a space not only for sustenance but for meaning - where we come together to create, share, and cherish. Gatherings take many forms, shaped by people, places, and cultures, yet we are quietly reminded that the opportunity to gather around a table, to share food, time, and conversation, is a privilege not afforded to all. In this reflection, we are invited to honour the beauty of these exchanges, regardless of their form, and recognise the deeper value they add to our shared experiences.