LOUISE MARTIN discovered tapestry weaving as an expressive language at university, and mastered its techniques whilst working as Senior Weaver on the medieval Hunt of the Unicorn series at Stirling Castle. Her work always remains faithful to the structure of weave, but looks beyond conventional boundaries. She has gained an international audience and has won the Cordis Prize for Tapestry in Edinburgh and the Kate Derum in Australia. Intensely personal and formed largely at the loom, Louise's work is often made in response to the landscape, from her native Isle of Man, to the Mongolian steppe, to Turkey, Iceland, Finland and the island of Westray.

For ROS BRYANT a chance visit to a contemporary tapestry exhibition in 1997 began a life-changing journey of self-expression. From home amongst the textile mills of Hebden Bridge she moved to Orkney where she established Northlight Studio, a busy working gallery and teaching space