HEATHER GATT’S BATIKS

Although I’ve been making batiks for most of my life, the intriguing process of wax-resist continues to fascinate me.

There is always more to explore. Using the finest primissima cotton from Java and a palette of the most lightfast fibre-reactive dyes, I construct my batik paintings in many layers, working light to dark.

Batik is an expressive medium. Sometimes I am challenged to take risks and apply the molten wax (a mix of beeswax and paraffin wax) in broad sweeps with a wide fan brush. Other times I may carefully place hundreds of tiny wax dots with a canting (wax pen), in a process that is almost a meditation and profoundly relaxing.

The influence of light on water and land is my inspiration. The way that light can transform and dramatise.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

Wax Cracks World Batik Gathering, Ghent, Belgium 1999

Lauderdale House, Highgate, London 2004

World Batik Conference, Boston, USA 2005

Batik Transitions Touring Exhibition 2006-07, to include Williamson Inst.

Gloucester Museum & Art Gallery, Worthing Museum & Art Gallery

Galanthus Gallery, Hereford 2007

Scarborough Art Gallery 2009

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Milton Keynes City Council

Northamptonshire County Council

GALLERIES

Turnstone Gallery, Sandsend, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Look Gallery, Castlegate, Helmsley

AWARDS/PRIZES

Arts Council - Ghent Festival - 1999

Arts Council - World Batik Conference, Boston - 2005

Batik Guild Prize - USA 2005