My piece, Reedbed, is a daybed designed especially for reading and relaxing. It can also double as a bench seat for up to three people. The piece is constructed from willow branches: picked, stripped, bundled and bound, in long bundles, onto a steel frame. With short stainless steel legs and a flexible reading lamp, the Reedbed comes alive.

Much of the inspiration for my work comes from naturally occurring forms, patterns and textures. I find I notice small details, and delight especially in plant structures. I found myself one day admiring the form of the seed pods on my radish plants. Their fat, boat-like shape with a turned-up prow reminded me of the raft type boats made from big bundles of reeds which are/were made in various forms in various parts of the world (papyrus was used in Egypt, ambatch reed in Kenya, bamboo reed in Peru and reeds from the shores of Lake Titicaca in the Andes mountains).

Natural materials, organic forms and textile based structures are fundamental to my art practice; these boats, therefore, had instant appeal. I chose to use willow branches for my daybed for much the same reasons as the creators of these boats would have chosen their materials; it is the most pliable, reed-like material readily available to me. It is also proven functionally by its popularity as a basketry material, and a delight to make something beautiful and functional from an environmental weed!