The cellular model of 1-3-type piezoelectric fibre composites has been established and simplified to be a series parallel hybrid model, and the equivalent mechanical and electrical parameters of the characteristic cell with a constitutive relationship between the piezoelectric phase and polymer phase were analysed. By using the optimised design, 1-3 piezoelectric fibre composites were fabricated, and their sensing performance in both the vertical and horizontal directions was tested. The results indicate that the highest output voltage is in the vertical direction (sensitive direction, i.e. the polarisation direction) with values more than two times higher than that in the horizontal direction (insensitive direction). By loading a direct-current high voltage, the actuation performance of the piezoelectric fibre composites was tested, and the results show that the value of the maximum strain generated in the vertical direction was more than two times higher than that in the horizontal direction (insensitive direction). These results indicate that 1-3-type piezoelectric fibre composites can offer good orthotropic sensing and driving performance.