www.rachelhutchinson.com

Rachel Hutchinson is a Textile Artist from County Antrim who has exhibited in a variety of galleries in Belfast, London, Reading, Halifax and Brighton and has received a number of awards for her artwork. Following her 1st class Textile Art degree in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in 2003, she moved on to become Product Development Executive for a leading homewares company in Manchester before returning to Belfast to start her own business in 2006. Rachel has produced a Major Textile commission for the Ulster Hospital maternity unit, and a textile installation piece entitled Fragment for Windsor Woman’s Centre, funded by Arts & Business and Stratagem.

“Layering textures, I combine vintage fabrics, papers and paints with detailed stitch-work. I use hand-embroidered mending and traditional patchwork techniques in combination with contemporary compositions which serve as decorative pieces of artwork, while suggesting an undercurrent of contained history, narrative and identity.”

Gingerbird began in June 2013 following a number of wedding bouquets and accessories commissioned by friends and family. The pieces which involved personal touches such as photos, books, precious buttons, etc proved very popular with admiring guests. As the bouquets and hair accessories have become very popular, Rachel felt that an online shop would be the next stage for her artwork. Rachel strives to work with each individual client to create something distinctive, unique and precious to them.

“With a soft and feminine visual appearance and a lavish flamboyance, Rachel’s work is uniquely beautiful . . .” (Fiona Rodgers, The Irish Times, 2007)