Workshop: Pippa Dyrlaga

I refer to myself as an artist. Most of the time a paper artist, but also as a printmaker.

I think I have always thought of my work as being in a different world though. To me they all have life and movement and exist somewhere. I am simply trying to capture a frozen moment of that.

I moved to Hebden in 2014, after living in the City of Leeds.

I am from Mirfield, originally (the same place Patrick Stewart is from!) Its is close by so I already knew it, but after getting disillusioned with life in a city, the draw of a beautiful place with a well know creative community was really inviting for me. I love it here.

I work from home and sit next to a window with a beautiful view of the valley, and my dog at my feet. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.

My typical day can vary, but mainly consists of being in my studio working on current projects. It is quite labour intensive with long periods of sitting at my desk, so I try and break the day up with admin tasks and other bits and bobs!

I get up early, and so my work day starts at around 8am, and can sometimes go until 10pm (with breaks of course!) I am lucky that I get to do something I enjoy so much so it’s as much a pleasure for me as it is work.

WINDOW HANGINGS PAPER CUT [Commission], Pippa Dyrlaga.

At first, paper was just a material to get what I needed done. Then it became quite a good choice because of the availability of the material as I was studying at the time. After a short while, I started to appreciate the material itself, its simplicity and varied types. Now it’s something I really love. I am a paper nerd. I love how different it can be and love to experiment with different types.

I recently started looking into more sustainable papers, and came across Japanese washi papers, which are both light as a feather and strong and I love working with it. It’s such a simple, every day material, but what it’s used for can both be thrown away and revered, it’s interwoven into history. I could go on and on.

The window is right next to the left hand side of my desk and outside is a lovely view of the valley I live in, and lots of trees. There are always lots of birds around and faint noises from the town. I usually have some music playing in the background, something nice and calm!

I can also usually hear my dog snoring away by my feet somewhere.

My favourite smell is in the winter, when the town has a lingering smell of wood burning stoves in the air, I wish I could sit with my window open!

IN MY OFFICE, Pippa Dyrlaga.

It wasn’t technically a commission, but I worked with a local gallery to produce an original and edition of prints to fundraise following the terrorist attack in Manchester last year. We sold them all and raised a nice sum for a local charity that works with children, and were working with the kids and families that were directly and indirectly affected by the events.

It’s almost exactly a year ago now so it is nice to look back and think that I made even a small amount of difference.

A circle. Emotions come and go, they are cyclical. You can’t have the same emotions all the time, but you will have them again. People aren’t meant to feel the same way all of the time.

I am 34 years old and I haven’t learnt to drive yet because it makes me so nervous!

ON THE BIRD’S WING  [Collaboration with IMPRESSION ORIGINALE], Pippa Dyrlaga.