Approved: 29.10.2010

Caron Penney

Artist, Consultant, Curator, Lecturer / academic, Maker, Project manager

Approved: 29.10.2010

Caron Penney’s career in textiles is approaching thirty years and encompasses both education and studio practice. As an educator she is affiliated with institutions such as the Fashion and Textiles Museum, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Morley College and West Dean College. Penney worked for West Dean Tapestry Studio for twenty-two years and was the Director and then a Consultant for the final five and a half years. She contributed to Tapestry - A Woven Narrative publish in 2011 and Authenticity and Replication: the ‘Real Thing’ in Art and Art Conservation, in 2014.

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News

     

    Artist Statement

    Caron Penney’s career in textiles is approaching thirty years and encompasses both education and studio practice. As an educator she is affiliated with institutions such as the Fashion and Textiles Museum, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Morley College and West Dean College. Penney worked for West Dean Tapestry Studio for twenty-two years and was the Director and then a Consultant for the final five and a half years. She contributed to Tapestry - A Woven Narrative publish in 2011 and Authenticity and Replication: the ‘Real Thing’ in Art and Art Conservation, in 2014.

    In 2013 Penney opened her own atelier, naming it Ateliers Weftfaced, here she makes her own tapestries and has been exhibiting nationally, at the National Centre for Craft and Design, the Holburne Museum, the MAC Birmingham and Contemporary Applied Arts (CAA) throughout 2016 & 2017. In 2016 she was selected as a member for the CAA, and in 2017 she was co-opted to the committee for the 62 Group of Textile Artists. In 2016/17 she has been working on a new series of works, ‘The Streets of Paved with Gold’ and ‘Golden Intersections’ the later are currently on show at the CAA.

     

    CV & Education

    Profile

    Caron Penney is a master tapestry weaver, who studied at Middlesex University and has worked in textile production for over twenty years. Penney creates and exhibits her own artist led tapestries for exhibition and teaches at numerous locations across the UK. Penney is both an artisanal weaver and an artist, she has manufactured the work of artists from Tracey Emin to Martin Creed.

     

    Employment

    Dates            October 2013 - Present

    Position        Freelance Sole Trader

    Employer        Ateliers Weftfaced

    Clients            Martin Creed, Gillian Ayres, Hauser & Wirth Gallery, Campaign for Wool,  Simon Martin & Pallant House Gallery

    Type of business    Manufacture of Tapestry

     

    Dates            2016 & 2017

    Position        Special Lecturer

    Employer        Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London

    Level            BA Hons Textile Design

    Type of business    Education

     

    Dates            January 2014 - July 2015

    Position        Consultant

    Employer        West Dean Tapestry Studio, W. Sussex, PO18 0QU

    Clients            Basil Beattie, Hayes Gallery, Craft Study Centre for ‘Artists Meets their Makers’ exhibition, Pallant House.

    Type of business    Manufacture of Tapestry

     

    Dates            December 2009 - October 2013

    Position        Director

    Employer        West Dean Tapestry Studio, W. Sussex, PO18 0QU

    Responsibilities     The main duties included directing a team of weavers, while             creating commissions, curating exhibitions, developing new innovations, assisting with fundraising, and creating a conservation and archiving procedure for the department.

    Clients      Tracey Emin, White Cube Gallery, Martin Creed, Hauser & Wirth Gallery, Historic Scotland.

    Type of business    Manufacture of Textiles/Tapestry

     

    Dates            2000 - Present

    Position        Short Course Tutor

    Employers        Fashion and Textiles Museum, Ashmolean Museum, Morley College, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Ditchling Museum, Charleston Farmhouse, West Dean College.

     

    Education

    Dates            1999 - 2001

    Qualification        Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Post 16)

    institution         Portsmouth University

     

    Dates            1990 - 1993

    Qualification        BA Hons Constructed Textiles

    principle studies    Tapestry weaving

    institution         Middlesex University

     

    Exhibitions 

    2017

    exhibition title        Present & Collect

    location        Contemporary Applied Arts, London

     

    exhibition title        Kate Derum Award Exhibition

    location        Australian Tapestry Workshop, Victoria, Australia

     

    exhibition title        Here and Now

    location        Holburne Museum, Bath

     

    exhibition title        Here and Now

    location        MAC Arts Centre, Birmingham 

     

    exhibition title        Artists Meet their Makers

    location        Craft Study Centre, Farnham

     

    2016

    exhibition title        A Winters Tale

    location        Contemporary Applied Arts, London

                

    exhibition title        Here and Now

    location        The National Centre for Craft and Design 

     

    exhibition title        New Members Showcase

    location        Contemporary Applied Arts

     

    exhibition title        Summer Exhibition

    location        Zimmer Stewart Gallery, Arundel

     

    2015

    exhibition title        Manhattan

    location        Zimmer Stewart Gallery, Arundel

     

    exhibition title        Collect 2015

    location        Saatchi Gallery, represented by the Wills Lane Gallery for Gillian Ayres Tapestry woven by Ateliers Weftfaced.

     

    exhibition title        Craft Now

    location        Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead

    exhibition title        The Wool Collection, Campaign for Wool

    location        Southwark Cathedral, London

     

    2014

    exhibition title        Summer Exhibition

    location        Royal Academy of Arts, London

     

    2011 - 2009 - 2008

    exhibition title        Collect - Crafts Council 

    location        Saatchi Gallery, London

     

    Membership

    2016            Member of the Contemporary Applied Arts, London

    2016            Member of the 62 Group

     

    Artists Talks & Events

    2017            Hauser & Wirth Behind the Scenes: A Special view of Martin Creed Artworks, London Craft Week, Hauser & Wirth Gallery, London

    2016            Artist Designed Tapestries, Pallant House Gallery

    2015            Making Tapestry, London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

    2014            Artist Talk - Campaign for Wool, Southwark Cathedral

    2013            Rediscovering the Unicorn Tapestries, The Fleming Collection, London

    2012            The New Unicorn Tapestries, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

    2006            Tapestry Study Day, V&A Museum, London

     

    Publications 

    2017             Weftfaced: House & Garden Magazine: Emily Tobin

    2017            Collecting Modern Tapestries: How to Spend it - FT: Jenny Dalton

    2014            Authenticity and Replication: the ‘Real Thing’ in Art and Art Conservation. London:  Archetype Publications

    2011            Tapestry - A Woven Narrative, Black Dog Publishing