Shirley Wyndham

Shirley has been part of Hornby Island’s creative community for nearly five decades, working with fabric, colour and fiber in forms that have ranged from wearable art to whimsical soft sculpture.

Shirley was one of the artists behind Hornby’s original Fibers cooperative, established in the late 1970s, and later became the owner of the Fibers store at the Ringside Market. Her textile work included designing and producing clothing, hand-painted silk tops and kimonos, combining her love of colour with an experimental approach to fabric and design. She also taught fiber arts on the island, sharing skills that were an important part of Hornby’s flourishing hand-crafted community.

Shirley was also the founder of Hornby’s tie-dye business, creating the colourful clothing that became something of an island signature. The business continues today, carrying forward that distinctly Hornby combination of exuberant colour and an updated hippie spirit.

Her own work has continued to evolve. Today Shirley works in soft sculpture and textiles, creating imaginative one-of-a-kind figures, mermaids, fish and other pieces with an unmistakable sense of humour and character. She continues to participate in local art shows and can also be found with her work at the Hornby Island Farmers’ Market.

Across nearly five decades of making, teaching and experimenting, Shirley has remained wonderfully difficult to categorize. Textile artist, designer, maker and soft sculptor, she is part of both Hornby’s artistic history and its continuing creative life.