‘Copper Blue I’ is from a series of four felts, made concurrently, and inspired by the vivid autumn of 2023 here in Derbyshire. I enjoyed getting out with my sketchbook and phone camera, walking, noticing and enjoying ephemeral moments as the sun caught the intense colours of the turning leaves. I played with layering of my materials to create richness and luminosity, and let each of these pieces develop in their own way. I spotted the tree in ‘Copper Blue I’ during a walk along Padley Gorge on the Longshaw Estate, and knew I would love to capture its radiance in my work.