Steph Jansen’s felt ‘paintings’ are made with dynamic, painterly layers of fibres, threads and fabrics. Inspired by her fascination with tucked away, often ancient, paths in the landscape, as well as the richness of her materials.
With landscapes as bold as they are abundant with trees, her work often fools the eye from a distance, resembling paintings. Yet it is created entirely from natural fibres, threads, and fabrics, felted together with warm soapy water and friction. With a background in fine art, she has always been fascinated by textiles, drawing inspiration both from the vibrant yarns and luxurious silks of her studio stash and from walks in the woods with her sketchbook.
She aims to create striking contrasts within her work, blending vivid bursts of colour and form with subtle, earthy tones and delicate details. Her goal is to capture fleeting moments-such as the embrace of sunlight through leaves-while honouring the enduring stories woven into landscapes, the whispers of past lives beneath our feet.
She finds it especially rewarding to hear viewers express how they feel drawn into the scenes, recognising their own special places. Her art also invites tactile exploration, encouraging fingertips to trace paths along its surface and forging connections beyond sight alone.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Fine Art with Art History from Goldsmiths College, University of London. Her work was longlisted for the Visual Art Open 2023, shortlisted for the Harley Open 2024, and is held in private collections in both the US and the UK. She regularly exhibits at art fairs and trails in the East Midlands, and has shown work in gallery exhibitions in Sheffield, Melbourne, Cromford, and Leicester.