Sue is a Fellow of
the Society of Scribes and Illuminators and has been a professional
calligrapher for many years. She works mainly to commission and her work
includes panels of poetry and prose, pedigrees and family trees,
remembrance and memorial books, honours and awards books as well as
certificates and diplomas. She also has a particular interest in
creating personal gifts for special occasions such as baptisms,
birthdays, marriages and anniversaries.
In any piece of
work, the quality of design and craftsmanship are essential. Sue
believes the words are the most important element of any design and that
they influence the choice of letterforms, colours, materials and size
and shape of the piece of work. Also, the most successful pieces of
calligraphy take account of the purpose or function of the work, as this
often determines the way the piece is presented - as a framed panel or a
manuscript book, for example.
Her work, as can
be seen in the gallery pages, is often mainly text with the occasional
addition of a simple illustration or image. She also uses raised and
burnished gold with a ground of gesso and loose leaf gold, as well as
other gilding techniques. She enjoys using a range of papers in her work
as well as writing on vellum and fabric.
Creating a piece
of calligraphy, like any work of art, takes time and is a very rewarding
process. Working with a client poses many challenges and it is
particularly pleasing to be able to produce an object which is
specifically designed and crafted for someone or something special.