The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Jenny grew up in the UK and studied weaving at the Royal College of Art in London. Here she met her husband Chris, an Australian student. Jenny tells of her struggle to adjust when she migrated to Australia from the UK as a young bride, pregnant with her first child, and how she came to accept her new life. Coming from England’s lush green countryside, Jenny grew to love the stark beauty of the Australian landscape and has incorporated its striking natural elements into her weaving, creating products that are quintessentially Australian. Jenny and her husband designed and built a unique loom that enables her to weave double and triple cloths, and her work has been featured in exhibitions both in Australia and overseas, as well as in documentary films. Jenny was honoured to be asked by the ACT Chief Minister’s Department to present a piece of her work to the Queen on her official visit to Canberra in 2000.

Today Jenny teaches weaving and textiles at the Australian National University and travels all over the world for work and research.