After graduating in Wildlife Illustration many years ago in the magical land of West Wales, I returned to County Down and was employed as a Nature Reserve Ranger for East Down (the first female Ranger in the country) where I worked for several years until starting a family. I continued working as a freelance illustrator specialising in Irish wildlife and was thrilled when my work was selected for several Royal Ulster Academy (RUA) exhibitions.
Working from home, in 2004 I established AliO Designs to craft high quality, innovative, design-led art greeting cards for sale through retail
outlets. A very passionate wildlife gardener and nature enthusiast, I’m often inspired by the simple exquisite beauty, shape and form within the natural world. My contemporary art cards are individually crafted to create unique little pieces of affordable art that are functional, yet clean, crisp and with an uncluttered aesthetic.
My work combines technical skills and creative flair with graphic design. Card ranges include Northern Ireland Icons, seasonal and occasion cards, and those left blank to suit any occasion. Recent abstract designs were inspired by traditional Aran knitting stitches richly symbolic of nature, the sea and the harsh life on the wind-ravaged Aran Islands of the west coast of Ireland.
My silk images are created using 100% pure silk – a fine, lightweight and unbleached white fabric which is stretched onto wooden frames. Images are drawn freehand with gutta resists using a fine nib before being painted with specialist silk paints. Once dry, details are added using a range of black, gold, silver and copper gutta and very fine nibs. Once dry, individual images are hand cut and frayed. Each is unique. Any lettering is highlighted with 3D transparent paint and the silk image may be further highlighted with a few spots of sparkle.
Cards are 105mm x 148mm, individually wrapped in compostable cello sleeve packaging with coordinating envelope.
