Lynne Curran trained in tapestry at the Edinburgh College of Art from 1973-77. Her work is influenced by her surroundings and is an expression of her thoughts and interests. Her tapestries do not begin life as paintings but rather with the first movement of the shuttle across the warp, having evolved from notes in her sketchbooks. Curran believes it is important for her ideas to take shape as she weaves, as the time involved in the process of making helps to refine the story she is telling. Natural yarns, such as linen, silk, fine wool and sewing cotton are employed by Curran when weaving. Due to the fact that natural fibres are better at absorbing dye, there is often a density to the colours in Curran's work. These intense colours help to evoke a sense of passion in the moment she is celebrating. La Dame Aux Belles Plumes is a fine example of Curran's great ability to translate story into art, it is a self portrait of life with her hens, Wendy, Bunty and Mary, and her cat Victoria. Despite the simplistic nature of the imagery there is a palpable sense of mystery and gracefulness in the work.