ROCWORX®️

ROCWORX®️ Bio

Marbling Artist + Leatherworker

Rachel O’Connell, is a multi-media marbling artist and an educator, with over 30 years marbling experience. She turned professional and launched her sustainable brand ROCWORX® in 2021. Rachel hopes to show this heritage craft can be used in present-day contemporary design.

Marbling is an ancient craft, originating from Japan in 750AD. It is an endangered heritage craft, with less than 20 professional marbling artists in the UK and is listed in Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts. Marbling is created when inks and paints are placed on the water surface and a pattern is made using tools and combs and then transferred to paper or textiles to make a surface pattern.

Rachel combines traditional tools and heritage-craft skills with a contemporary design aesthetic, to create home décor and wearable art. Her style focusses on subtle colour combinations, with an accent of bright colour. Her heritage marbling patterns are inspired by nature and architecture. Her range includes cushions, lampshades, silk scarves, marbled leather carry goods, journals and cases, as well as a paper range of gift wrap, cards and artwork.

Rachel is a sustainable artist, working to be net zero aligned. She also has a circular design range, repurposing leather from offcuts from making her bags and journals, as well as using textiles and ballet slippers received from the Royal Opera House and furniture manufacturers, to create marbled leather jewellery and accessories. A portion of her circular design range sales go to charity.

Since launching her brand, Rachel has exhibited and sold work in Manchester Art Gallery, Dulwich Picture Gallery, MAKE Southwest in Devon and John Ruskin Brantwood Museum and Weald and Downland Living Museum. She sells work online, at in person events and in small independent shops and galleries in Devon and now has a range of products in The British Museum.

Rachel demonstrates and tutors marbling and leatherwork workshops in schools, community groups, galleries and museums across the country. During 2024 Rachel will tutoring workshops and demonstrate marbling at Weald and Downland Living Museum and with Creative Dimensions Trust at Cockpit Arts.

For more information

www.rocworx.co.uk

Proud member of:
ACID • Blue Patch • Devon Artist Network • Find A Maker • Heritage Crafts • Leather UK • Make Southwest