Artist: Fran Buxton – creative process

Small tarnished and rusty gas canisters are joined together in a chain by a ribbon of roughly woven blue ribbon.

Osborn Bridge, Shelton Old Road, Ephraim Street, Clifford Street by Fran Buxton

Fran Buxton finds beauty in blemished objects that bear the traces of their past. Her work in the Made in the Middle exhibition features a collection of found objects that have been transformed with needlelace and needle weaving.

Fran’s work is on show in Made in the Middle from January 2025 – April 2026.

Fran Buxton talks about her creative process

With this collection, I aim to encourage a thoughtful observation of discarded objects – for what they are and what they represent, for their newly elevated status as a stitched sculptural art form and importantly as a vehicle for conversation; a considered holding of space. 

Such objects have been gathered as I explored my new urban surroundings: carefully selected for their colour, textured patina and backstory. In responding to each, I gave extra consideration to how the “threads” I use (to stitch, weave or make lace adornments with) could relate. Instead of my usual choice of cotton threads, I hand twisted lengths of cord, made from rolling papers used for smoking and different colours of discarded plastic bags (especially favouring the iconic yet flimsy blue plastic carrier bag of off-licences, that floats around my neighbourhood).  

These throwaway materials require extra time and processing to achieve a fine enough result to then coax into stitched forms. It became a ritual of methodically hand twisting metres and metres of this cord, on the train, in my spare time: at times physically uncomfortable with repeated movements of arms and hands.  

I explored new ways of creating lace motifs, soft basketry, braiding and dyeing with rusty items from the pavement, in order to find the most fitting technique for each composition. 

In doing so, I found space to ponder: value (or lack thereof) given to objects and in turn their owners, their impact on me, society, the environment and, in turn how, now changed, their impact continues to evolve.  

Marrying these unconventional (and at times unruly) materials has presented continual challenges yet what has emerged has beautiful sculptural potential; worthy of consideration. 

A young woman stands in her small busy studio space. There are papers, images, trinkets and other items hanging all over the walls. She wears a bold patterned shirt.

Fran Buxton in the studio (Photo: David P  Rowan)

A selection of itmes laid out on a white surface. One shows a roughly woven fabric which incorporates rusty ring-pulls along two sides. Another item is made of small tarnished gas canisters woven together witha rough blue ribbon.
A collection of small, discarded and discoloured metal gas cannisters, some of which has been decorated with delicate weaving.

Images: Fran Buxton



Where Next?

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Made in the Middle: Artists

See all of the artists in the exhibition.

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Made in the Middle 2025

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Three sculptures. They appear to include found objects made from building material. They include rough stone shapes, twisted shapes and smooth glazed forms.

Made in the Middle: Learning Resources

Resources and activities to support you visit.

Pages from the guide show and artist in their studio and a page of text titled 'stories'.


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