10am Isobel Caine Textiles: Innovation and Design at Loughborough University Inspired by original photography based on flower petals frozen in ice, her graduate collection; Transience, aims to capture a particular moment in time that is otherwise short lived due to the decomposing nature of these natural materials.. The aim of the photography is to capture […]

11.30am Megan Leech RCA MA Textiles: Woven Textiles. With an interest in how people exist and interact with the spaces around them, I create work that captures a balance of movement and stillness exploring the beauty of the mundane. This collection focuses on the kitchen as a space of freedom and liberty where order and […]

1.30pm Jane Stephens BA Hons Textile Design (Weave) at Falmouth University I came to study at Falmouth as a 61-year-old mature student, having done very little creatively throughout my working life. I was introduced to weave in the first year, and my focus quickly developed as an interest initially in double cloth and then into […]

We are delighted to announce that we are hosting our first annual Natural Dye Symposium. We are thrilled the line up for the symposium this year is 10am-11am Aviva Leigh - ’STRIPS, STRIPES & SATINS’ - Exploring 18th Century Norwich Textiles 11.30am - 12.30pm Isabella Whitworth - Pursuing Purple : Shellfish, Lichen and Mauve 1.30pm-2.30pm […]

’STRIPS, STRIPES & SATINS’ - Exploring 18th Century Norwich Textiles The talk is based on a project that I worked on, with historian Dr Michael Nix, inspired by the brightly coloured textiles that Norwich was famous for. As a textiles graduate from NUA, (Norwich University of the Arts) specialising in weave and natural dyeing, for […]

Pursuing Purple : Shellfish, Lichen and Mauve For the last 12 years Isabella Whitworth has been researching the nineteenth century dye trade in lichen, historically used for making a purple dye called orchil. Her findings unexpectedly linked to two other famous dyes: Imperial Purple and Perkin’s Mauve. A richly illustrated presentation will trace the fascinating […]

AN INDIGO JOURNEY This talk will take you through Luisa’s 10 years of dyeing, learning and working with indigo. From her time living and learning about traditional textiles in Japan, through learning local techniques in India to building an indigo garden in the UK. Luisa will talk about dyeing techniques, painting on cloth, growing indigo […]

Growing and Using your own Dye Garden There is a particular satisfaction and freedom in growing your own dye plants. Even a small growing space can provide a significant amount of dye if you select your plants carefully and nurture them well. Drawing on over 15 years’ experience of dye gardening in Hitchin, Susan and […]