Rachel Maloney

Rachel Maloney is a Fine Art graduate from Limerick School of Art and Design where she studied Painting. 

Her recent work has been inspired by the David Attenborough series, 'Our Planet' in particular the episode 'coastal seas' 

The Sea Kelp which forms part of a sub-marine forest, is as 'important to the ocean as trees are to the land' as it provides food and shelter for an abundant and diverse community. In recent times climate change and human interference are upsetting the delicate balance in the marine environment. The population of the sea urchins which normally graze on the kelp have recently increased due to the lack of sea otters which usually feed on them, thus killing the kelp and therefore ultimately adversely affecting the biodiversity of the sea forest.

Furthermore, Jellyfish are taking over waters once dominated by fish and are a worrying sign of a serious imbalance and rising temperature in the coastal environments. They are some of the oldest multi-organ animals in the world, existing in some shape or form for at least 500 million years, somehow always adapting to the changing climate.

Using a mixture of Textile Screen-print and gathered scraps of recycled fabric, she has created bright colourful pieces that convey the natural beauty of the sea and its accompanying wildlife.