Ryde based fibre artist, Loren Thorn started needle felting after completing a workshop with Gillian Chapman called 'Painting with fibres' in 2013.
The needle felting technique is extremely simple and it involves a barbed needle with very tiny hooks, together with unspun wool.
The needle pushes the wool through either more wool to make a 3d sculpture or an old blanket to make a picture.

Since learning her craft, Loren has developed her own style, drawing on inspiration from nature and her love of the outdoors - her other career is as a garden designer.
Her work has increased in variety and size and has been exhibited and sold in various galleries and outlets including Yarmouth Gallery, The Peoples Gallery in Ryde, Burfields in Ventnor, Quarr Abbey, St Barbe Gallery in Lymington and Giles Gallery in South Wales.
Loren, who comes from Wales originally, also runs very popular and successful workshops, where she teaches the creation of fibre art to students of all ages and abilities. She also loves selling at craft fairs and shows, as this is where the technique of needle felting can be demonstrated to people who have never seen it before. Her work ranges from greetings cards, right up to large framed originals and commissions.
Loren is also part of The Ryde Art Collective (TRAC) which also has an exhibitions at Quarr Abbey'.