Jenni Milne

Born in Birmingham, Jenni gained a degree in Fashion/Textiles and Art History, followed by an Art Teaching Diploma. In 1969 she taught at Redruth School of Art now part of University College Falmouth.

Life changed dramatically with the arrival of two sons in 1974/76 and teaching was put on hold. However, still needing to be creative, she designed Rag Dolls which were accepted by the Design Centre in both London and Scotland.

When both sons left home Jenni concentrated on Silk painting, with her studio in a craft centre just outside Wadebridge, and it was here that she started teaching all aspects of the craft, as well as exporting silk cards to Japan, Saudi and Europe. Larger silk paintings were exhibited throughout the South West and many are in private collections including the Japanese Embassy.

Jenni combines her love of Cornwall, its beautiful coastline, seascape, and amazing changes of mood with her skill and knowledge of silk painting techniques to produce a broad variety of work, much of which captures the essence of her location. The ranges of inks and paints she uses, often coupled with machine embroidery techniques and exotic threads, result in stunning images.

Jenni's Devore is often enhanced with embellishments to bring lush textural results. It was because of Jenni’s use of so many painting techniques, from basic silk painting to creating Devore that she was commissioned to write ‘Silk Painting’ published by Crowood Press. The book has been well received with wonderful comments from the Guild of Silk Painters, Sinotex (suppliers of all things silk) and Fibrecrafts.