Michelle Stirling
Michelle lives and works in the remote Scottish Highlands, drawing inspiration from its rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Surrounded by crofters and farmers, she sources her materials locally, working with fleece that would otherwise go to waste. Her practice is deeply connected to the traditions of the region, blending craft, folklore, and environmental awareness.
Michelle’s work centres on the transformative potential of fleece, using wet and needle-felting techniques to sculpt intricate, organic forms that are both delicate and strong. Her pieces often draw on Scottish folklore, blending figurative and abstract elements to evoke the myths and stories of the Highlands.
As well as wool sculpture, Michelle is a natural dyer and ecoprinter, using plants, leaves to create organic patterns and colour on fabric, fibre and felt. She enjoys creating colour in harmony with nature, embracing the unpredictability and beauty of natural processes while avoiding harmful synthetic dyes. She also spins and weaves, using these traditional skills to connect with her own heritage and memories, and with others in her community.
She sources her materials directly from local crofters and farmers, reclaiming fleece that might otherwise be discarded and celebrating its versatility as a medium. By combining traditional craft methods with a commitment to sustainability, Michelle aims to honour heritage while addressing contemporary environmental issues, giving new life and purpose to an overlooked material.
Michelle's Piece for Forgotten Fleece Tales
Michelle’s contribution to the exhibition is a life-sized sheep’s head sculpture, crafted entirely from natural fleece sourced from local sheep farmers in the Scottish Highlands. Using needle-felting techniques, she transforms wool that would otherwise be discarded into a textured, striking artwork that showcases the varied forms and possibilities of the material.
Drawing on the folklore of the Highlands, the piece serves as a reflection of the enduring cultural ties between people, land, and livestock. By returning the wool to the form of the sheep, Michelle playfully invites viewers to consider the circular natures of both tradition and sustainability.
