Naomi Harvey

Naomi is an artist who works exclusively with hand-cut paper. Her intricate creations are deeply influenced by her background in traditional song and a lifelong connection to the natural world.

Based in her home studio near Crieff, Naomi first discovered paper cutting as a means of relaxation while pursuing a PhD in traditional song and sound archives. What began as a leisure activity soon grew into a professional practice. Today, she produces bespoke commissioned pieces and regularly exhibits her work in local galleries and events.

Aesthetic

Naomi’s work is inspired by her love of native flora and fauna, and shaped by a background in traditional song and folktale. Her pieces celebrate the intricacies of the natural world and our relationship with it, often combining imagery with lines from literature and folksong to create a rich interplay of word and design.

Her paper cutting practice began by exploring her childhood love of the fairy tale silhouettes in her book collection, and has evolved into a distinctive style further influenced by historical botanical plates, natural history illustrations, and the simplicity of folk art.

A muted, vintage-inspired colour palette and the soft textures of hammered paper lend depth and delicacy to her intricate hand-cut creations.

Practice

Naomi works surrounded by shelves of specialist papers and books on folksong and wildflowers, with artwork by favourite illustrators and local artists on the walls for inspiration.

Each piece begins as a sketch, then is traced or drawn freehand and carefully cut with a precision blade. Her work takes two main forms: intricate single-sheet designs in one colour, and layered collages made from individually cut, coloured pieces. She delights in fine detail, capturing everything from the stamen of a wildflower to a glint in a bird’s eye. Every element is cut on the reverse of the paper, a process that has unexpectedly taught her the skill of writing backwards.

Paper cutting is a slow, meditative art form. From the spark of an idea to the finished piece, her favourite part remains the simple, satisfying act of sliding the blade through paper to gradually reveal the image in mind.