ROCWORX
Marbling Artist + Leatherworker
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About
Rachel O’Connell is a multi-media marbling artist and an educator, with over 30 years marbling experience, who has since worked with artists all over the world, learning her craft in a creative environment. She trained in leatherwork over 15 years ago for upholstery and began marbling on leather over a decade ago. Marbling on paper, wood and natural textiles, Rachel combines her heritage skills with a contemporary design aesthetic to create marbled textile art for home decor, stationery and wearable art.
Rachel launched her sustainable brand, ROCWORX® in 2021 and has since exhibited and sold work in Manchester Art Gallery, Dulwich Picture Gallery, The British Museum and MAKE Southwest. She will be participating in exhibitions in 2024 at John Ruskin’s House, Brantwood Museum and MAKE Southwest.
Rachel works with sustainable natural materials, handmade papers and repurposed synthetic textiles, making in small batches, or made to order, with items shipped within 3 weeks from order. She also works on commission to conserve leather items and design to a client’s brief.
Rachel is a sustainable maker, working to being net zero aligned. With a zero-waste philosophy, Rachel has a circular design range, using offcuts and repurposed marbled leather to create jewellery and accessories. She works with businesses to repurpose their textiles and is currently working with theatrical textiles and ballet slippers received from the Royal Opera House, with some of the sales proceeds going to charity.
Rachel is based in Devon, but tutors marbling across the UK in schools, community groups, museums and galleries. She is a tutor with West Dean College and with the charity, Creative Dimensions Trust. She has tutored for Arts Council’s National Saturday Club, as well as demonstrating with Endangered Heritage Crafts at Craft Festival and at Weald and Downland Living Museum. She also works privately 1:1 with trauma survivors. She offers a range of workshops in marbling and leatherwork for adults, community groups, schools and families.
Rachel is also a member of
ACID
Blue Patch
Crafts Council
Find-a-Maker (Craft Festival)
MAKE Southwest Green Makers Initiative
Leather UK
Society of Bookbinders
Mini craft gallery
