ABOUT
Merope adjusting the mast of a driftwood boat
Merope collecting driftwood on the North-west coast of England
Merope Pease
Merope lives inland from the wonderful Northumberland coast on a small farm with her husband, two children, grandchild, two dogs and two cats.
Her creative studio is in one of the outbuildings and it was here that she first started to create boats out of driftwood. The studio is also home to Love to Hold which Merope launched in 2012 as she turned a favourite hobby of “making stuff” into a full-time business.
Whilst experimenting with new product designs to compliment her range of wash bags, lavender bundles and other accessories, Merope began to imagine how Liberty of London fabric would look displayed as artwork on the wall.
Her first driftwood boats were adorned with Liberty Fabric sails. From these very first boats Merope’s work has developed to become more sculptural and distinctive.
Her work is dictated by what she finds combing beaches and rivers across the UK.
Merope says, “I like the boats to stay looking very much as I find them. I find so many different sorts of pieces and each one is unique but it's always their integral feel, shape and colour that appeals to me.”
An eclectic array of striped fabrics is used for the boat sails, all of which are carefully shaped to look authentic.
Many of the Merope's boats are designed to hang from the wall but some are freestanding. Some are also reversible which means they have different fabric on either side and can be viewed from the front and the back.
If you run an art gallery and would like to get in touch with Merope, please find her contact details here. Individual commissions are also welcome.