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Gift Guide: Book Transformations

Kate Bufton spends her time with her nose stuck in a book. But she isn’t reading – instead, she is using old and worn out tomes and turning them into lovely creations, which you can see for yourself at Shop Boutique this Christmas. She chatted to Sandra Mangan about her work.

Please tell me a little about yourself and what you make.

I am a freelance artist working within the borough. I work with old books and transform them through a variety of cuts and folds from a carrier of text to an object of art. It is the characteristics and aesthetics of the old books that drive my creativity; their musty smells and the coloration of the pages. As well as making my worn work, I have also been working in a school as an artist in residence which has been an amazing year for me. Alongside this, I teach a variety of book art workshops in and around the north west.

Describe a favourite piece you have created.

One of my favourites is a piece I made early on in my career called The Waitress. It is circular in its design and is stunningly beautiful. The pages are spread out to create a unique design which invites the viewer to look up close.

What is different about your work?book transformations

My work is incredibly different to most paper and book art. My recent organic collection, preserved in the glass domes, takes on a completely different form to my previous geometric sculptures. The organic curves and shapes flow within the glass casing as the burnt edges help enhance how precious and delicate paper actually is. The words are still recognisable as a more abstract story is captured within the structure.

What are your best sellers this Christmas?

My best sellers this Christmas are my Christmas Tree Books. They have been incredibly popular wherever I have taken them and I have even had new stockists getting in touch to stock them for Christmas. However I usually sell a variety of my work at this time of year and always get special book-related commissions for Christmas, so there is never usually one best seller.

Where can our readers buy from you?

As well as being at Shop Boutique in St John’s Square, I regularly attend artist book fairs with my work. Manchester Artist Book Fair and BABE, down in Bristol, are yearly events but I am usually present at them. My work is also stocked in a wonderful gallery in North Yorkshire called Bils & Rye, run by an amazing couple who have helped support me and my work over the past twelve months. My work can also be found in the interior design showroom, David Gavin Design, Manchester.book transformations2

What are your plans for 2014?

My plans are to continue developing my artistic practice and exploring the possibilities with old books. I have already started taking workshop bookings for me and my work for 2014, which is wonderful. I have been selected to exhibit at an international art fair in February in Oxford – so I am hoping that 2014 will be bigger and better than this year.

 

 

Images from Book Transformations on Facebook.

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