Arts and Culture Features

The old storage arches under central bridge were converted into studios around five years ago and are now home to over 20 artists.

Stephanie Hood's découpage work

After graduating from Winchester School of Art in 2007, Stephanie has pursued her two loves, teaching and art.

She now juggles a full-time job as a teaching assistant at a school for children with special needs with her artwork, which is mainly focused around creating floral fabrics and wallpapers.

Stephanie uses Laura Ashley fabrics as a base for her work: "They remind me a lot of my childhood because my mum always used Laura Ashley fabrics in our house, so they're something I feel very comfortable with."

The iconic company are so impressed with her modern twist on their floral classics, they now support Stephanie with materials.

Stephanie is making waves on the city's art scene

Floral fancy

Using the romantic cascading floral prints as a base, Stephanie primes them back and then adds her own touches through a process of revealing and screening over the original designs.

"Sometimes I just have this image in my head and it just comes out, but often I don't have any idea what the finished piece is going to look like, I just start working and it just evolves as I go."

Preparing for her forthcoming show Stephanie has been working on round canvases: "I'd always worked on a square, I really wanted to do round canvases for a long time but every time I tried it just looked like a planet!"

At work in the studio

Round and round...

"It was really strange, but I feel like I've conquered it now - I think you have to go through the stage of things not working for them to eventually work."

Each piece of the artwork in the show will aim to represent an element of the wallpaper: "So you've got drawn and painted images, the découpage work - and then you've got the flower design which has inspired the whole piece."

Stephanie will be showing her work in the Catalyst exhibition at The Bargate from 14 March - 19 April. Gallery opening hours Wed - Fri: 11:00 - 18:00, Sat - Sun: 12:00 - 17:00, entrance is free, more information 02380 338 778.