Where Wool Meets Whangamatā
Meet Leah Creaven. “I am a textile artist, and I make rug-tufted artwork that weaves together stories of land, connection and belonging.” For Leah, wool is more than a material – it’s a bridge between her Irish roots and her life in Whangamatā, a way to explore memory, identity and the quiet magic of slow creation.
Eight years ago, Leah traded Ireland’s emerald landscapes for the shores of Aotearoa. After several years working in Martinborough’s wine industry, she and her Taupō-born husband sought a better balance in Whangamatā. “The ocean, the community, the pace of life – it’s all been great for the soul,” she says. “And great for the art.” The move shifted her creative perspective. Where Ireland’s muted tones once dominated her palette, Whangamatā’s bright light and saturated colors now infuse her work. “There’s a spaciousness here that’s filtered into how I make,” she explains. Recent pieces experiment with negative space and contrast, reflecting the Coromandel’s expansive coastline.
Leah’s journey to textile art began with a degree in textile design, but it was a later job in a gallery – where she practised punch-needle art during quiet hours – that led her to rug tufting.
“The obsession grew,” she admits. “It became a way of communicating.”
Her work is bold and tactile, sitting somewhere between painting and sculpture. Vibrant wool forms textured, layered pieces that invite touch. “There’s a physicality to the process that I love,” she says. Each artwork carries emotional weight, like Footin Turf, which captures childhood memories of stacking peat with her grandfather in Ireland. “It ties me back to my roots when they feel far away.” Wool, a fibre deeply entwined with Irish culture, is her medium of choice. “My granny knitted jumpers and made hand-knotted rugs,” Leah recalls. “Working with wool feels like honouring that history.”
Leah’s creative process is deliberate and meditative. Ideas often spark during weekly phone calls with her father, a trusted sounding board. “We start with work chats that turn into life chats,” she laughs. From there, she moves to sketches, color matching, and finally, tufting. This ‘slow making’ approach is central to her practice.
“In the rhythm of repetition, there’s a kind of meditation,” she says. “Line after line, stitch after stitch.” The pace allows ideas to emerge organically, often mid-creation. “You can get lost in it – in a good way.” Her studio tools reflect this ethos. Among them are old, squeaky wool winders, worn but reliable. “They’re imperfect, but they work a charm,” she says.
Leah challenges misconceptions about textile art being ‘just craft’. “It’s an art form rooted in history and identity,” she asserts. “Every stitch carries meaning.” The Coromandel creative community has embraced her work, from sold-out tufting workshops to local gallery showcases. “Seeing people leave with a new skill is incredible,” she says. Collaborations with spaces like Whangamatā Gallery and Christine Rabarts’ exhibit space have further cemented her place in the region’s art scene.
Sharing personal work remains vulnerable. “If it’s honest, it’ll feel exposing,” Leah acknowledges. “But vulnerability is connection. The more personal the piece, the more it might resonate with someone else.”
Just for Fun
- Wool or linen? “Wool – every time. It’s warm, resilient, and full of character.”
- Best creative advice: “Stop thinking, start making.”
- Favorite local reset: A walk on Whangamatā Beach or the Wentworth Falls track.
Leah may joke about imposter syndrome, but her work speaks with unwavering clarity.
In each tufted line, she stitches together past and present, Ireland and Aotearoa, creating art that’s as heartfelt as it is vibrant.
Explore Leah’s work:
Instagram: @leahcreaven_rugs
Website: leahcreaventextiles.com
Rug Tufting Workshops: leahcreaventextiles.com/events
Words by Lana Garland
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