Russell murders: Survivor Josie's art inspired by Wales
- Published
Josie Russell says she is aware of recent developments in the case of her mother and sister
An artist whose mother and sister were murdered in the 1990s has put her career success down to her love of Wales.
Josie Russell, 36, uses Welsh landscapes and locations to create textile art, including patchwork.
Her mum Lin Russell and sister Megan were killed in Kent in July 1996, just months after moving from Wales.
Josie has since returned to the home where she grew up in Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd.
She told Cymru Fyw her work was heavily influenced by scenes from across the country.
Josie Russell recycles materials for her work
"The mountains of Snowdonia and Wales have been such an inspiration and have given me a lot of ideas," she said.
"I'm so lucky to do the job I do. I think my work takes my mind off what has happened - being an artist is my job and I love it."
Last month, it was announced there would be a review of murderer Michael Stone's convictions for killing Lin, 45, and Megan, six.
That was three months after a previous review ruled out sending the case to the Court of Appeal.
Lin and Megan Russell died a few months after they moved from Dyffryn Nantlle to Kent
Mother-of-two Lin was walking her children home from school along a country lane in Chillenden, Kent, when they were attacked.
Josie, who was nine years old at the time, was the only one to survive.
The ordeal was recently covered in a Sky documentary series The Russell Murders: Who Killed Lin & Megan?
Josie said she was aware of the series about the murders but had not watched it, despite being contacted by the production company.
She is also aware of the latest developments about Stone, but said she did not want to elaborate.
Josie says she uses recycled materials to make sure her art is not harmful to the environment
Josie is a textile artist and, since gaining a degree in graphics from Parc Menai in Bangor, said the demand for her work had grown enormously.
She has more than 18,000 followers on her Facebook page and said there was "no way for me to have exhibitions at the moment as there are so many people commissioning specific work".
Josie said she believes in creating artwork that does not harm the environment.
"I still reuse materials. Sometimes I buy clothes from charity shops or sometimes I use my own clothes - clothes I don't wear anymore, and lots of people give me clothes - especially patchwork groups."
The Christmas season is the busiest time for her art commissions
Josie lives in the house she used to live in when she was young and her father, Shaun Russell, lives close by.
"My father helps a lot during the fair season and my partner Iwan comes to walk with me and offers a few ideas," she said.
She added that she did not know "if we could have done it all without the mountains. Wales has given me so many ideas".
She said her intention next year was to take her works across Wales.
"At the moment I don't have enough pictures to hold an exhibition as there are so many commissions.
"But next year I hope to travel, camp and mountaineer in north, mid and south Wales and have exhibitions of my work as well."
Josie says she hopes to hold exhibitions of her work across the country in 2024
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