Artybird by Donna Lynch

Donna Lynch is the creator of Artybird. She lives in rural Co. Derry with her Donegal native husband and two children. She works from her studio that is surrounded by the landscape that inspired the works of the late Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney. 

Donna graduated from the University of Ulster with a BA Hons degree in Textile and Fashion Design, an MA in Applied Arts - specialising in Textiles and Print and a Cert in Teaching. After graduating she worked in the Creative Industry in Dublin and Holywood as a designer for 10 yrs+ and then ventured into part-time lecturing, becoming a Co-ordinator of Foundation Studies in Art and Design. Teaching others the many disciplines of art and design reignited Donna's love of textiles, so she decided to launch Artybird.

 Donna hand makes all her creations producing original hand-felted pictures and products that incorporate the traditional technique of wet felting and dry needle felting. She essentially paints with wool, which is an innovative approach in creating art/craft. Using various types of sheep’s wool Donna hand dyes, needle felts or layers up and wet felts to create an artwork. This is further embellished with hand embroidery and machine stitch to add definition and texture. She also has an interest in Irish symbolic shapes and Donegal tweeds that she incorporates into her work.

Hand felting is a traditional technique and craft but her innovative process involves a non-traditional method of illustration. The sewing machine, needle and thread become her pencil. All works are framed to a high standard. Her hand-felted artworks and products take inspiration from her rural surroundings of rolling fields, flower meadows, hedgerows and the poetry of Seamus Heaney, to the rugged coastline and sea-scapes of Ireland. Her work adorns the walls of homes around the world!

Due to the nature of felting, no two pieces are the same so you are guaranteed an original every time. Donna also has a selection of prints and greeting cards that are professional prints of her original felted artworks.