Naomi Harvey
Naomi is an artist who works exclusively with hand-cut paper. Her intricate creations are deeply influenced by her background in traditional song and a lifelong connection to the natural world.
Based in her home studio in Perthshire, Naomi’s work is inspired by her love of native flora and fauna and shaped by a background in traditional song and folktale. Her pieces celebrate the intricacies of the natural world and our relationship with it. Her paper cutting practice began by exploring her childhood love of fairy tale silhouettes in her book collection, and has evolved into a distinctive style further influenced by vintage botanical plates, natural history illustrations, her love of folktale, folksong and literature and the simplicity of folk art.
Each papercut begins as a sketch, then is traced or drawn freehand and carefully cut. Her work takes two main forms: intricate single-sheet designs in one colour, and layered collages made from individually cut, coloured pieces. She delights in fine detail, capturing everything from the stamen of a wildflower to a glint in a bird’s eye. Paper cutting is a slow, meditative art form. From the spark of an idea to the finished piece, her favourite part remains the simple, satisfying act of sliding the blade through paper to gradually reveal the image in mind.
