Model Rachel Robinson says that the dress - "Is very heavy and makes me feel a bit claustrophobic at times".

Susie, who is originally from Kent, lived in Canada fourteen years where she studied music before moving to the North West to play with the Halle and various BBC orchestras.

Looking for something a little different to do creatively (the music involved lots of travelling and at the time she had small children to think about) so Susie decided to study art.

Now her latest exhibition is set to open at the Manchester Art Gallery and involves thousands of specially prepared turkey feathers.

"This isn't the first time I've worked with feathers," says Susie, "In the past I filled the attic of Islington Mill in Salford with feather down."

But the feathers are only half of the exhibition. Gladrags is a Victorian style dress made with pink balloons.

Susie says, "Whatever performance we do in public we're always being somebody and that's sometimes an effort and that is eluded to in the way the dress is so physically difficult to wear".

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