Ida Lough found her inspiration in the natural environment and the design of Water Grasses is based on the rushes and grasses to be found in Christchurch’s Botanical Gardens and Hagley Park. This is an abstract woven tapestry made in the traditional tapestry technique. Lough never made preliminary drawings but designed straight onto the loom. Virtually self-taught, she was a New Zealand pioneer in this art form and is remembered as one of New Zealand’s finest tapestry makers. Lough was born in Christchurch. She was in her 40s before she began weaving, following a visit to Scandinavia in 1954. In 1975 Lough was commissioned to weave a large tapestry for the interior of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch. She completed this in close collaboration with sculptor Ria Bancroft (1907-1993). For 10 years Lough exhibited with The Group, an association of contemporary Christchurch artists. She was Patron of the Christchurch Guild of Spinners and Weavers and her work has been exhibited widely in New Zealand and internationally.