About Us

Belinda Budge

My work follows a natural, grounded rhythm – an earthy process shaped by observation, repetition, and listening. Walking the same chalk and walnut paths in Dorset throughout the seasons, I study the changing sowing patterns in the fields - some coherent, others wonderfully chaotic.

Using cones, sticks, and thistles gathered along the way, I recreate these patterns with walnut ink made from locally foraged walnuts. The marks build in layers across cloth and paper. I work with carefully chosen materials – papers made from recycled clothing and the bark of the Japanese Gampi plant, and threads naturally dyed with walnut ink – allowing every element to hold a trace of place and process.

Sometimes I take these field patterns out to sea, with the intention of transforming them into sails for the boat. I love the quiet performance of hoisting a sail – the moment it fills with wind and carries us forward. While sailing, I search for new sea patterns, combining them with the rhythms of the land. These encounters inspire a new series of designs and influence the stitching I make on each sail.

Documenting my process through film has become an integral part of my practice. Filmmaker Shelly Nel travels alongside me, bringing her exquisite eye and sensitivity to capture the dialogue between land, sea, and making.