STACEY Wilding, who only recently finished her fine art degree at Hereford College of Arts, is already finding places queuing up to display her manipulations of old and new books.

The 21-year-old first discovered book art while at Hereford College, winning that year’s book art prize and, under the supportive eye of visiting Bristol tutor, Guy Begbie, soon realised that this would be the main focus of her work.

Stacey went on to win two more book art prizes and secured an exhibition at the University of West England in Bristol.

Appropriately for someone who lives and works in Hay, Stacey is obsessed with damaged and distressed books, especially the older ones that have been traditionally bound.

She gives them a new life, explaining: “I enjoy using discarded, unwanted books; those which lie untouched, failing to attract an audience.”

She uses a variety of techniques, include folding pages, steaming them in hot baths or showers and spray lacquering.

She also makes use of unconventional materials such as car sprays and silicon. Stacey’s work takes an unwanted book which has no audience and uses the changed form to display issues concerning mental health and the complexities of everyday life.

Some people find her work disquieting and intrusive and object to the destruction of the original book form. Stacey invites a reaction, however strong, in either way, encouraging people to touch and hold her work.

“I love it,” says one of the owners of Addyman Books, Anne Brichto. “We have these volumes, you can’t even give them away and Stacey, using their basic form, has created some really strange, scary and exciting things, I can’t stop looking at them.”

Decide for yourself at Addyman Books, where a selection of Stacey’s work can be seen until the end of January, with a larger exhibition in prospect during the 2011 Hay Festival.

For details, call Addyman Books on 01497 821136.