Artist statement
I take my first point of reference from crowds and large gatherings of people, looking for the detail in the ordinary but also the commonality within the group. Photographs are used to still movement and to reveal details, these photographs are then used to create drawings.
I sew these drawings onto fabric using a sewing machine. I use transparent fabric and I leave loose threads, thus revealing and celebrating the process of sewing. Transparent cloth alllows me to layer the drawings on top of each other and so to build up a crowd which allows us to see through it.
My work also includes screen printed buildings, windows, roofs and skylines. These elements create a sense of atmosphere and build links between the people and their location.
The black line of the thread is a seductive one, raised from the surface it is tactile and sightly fuzzy at the edges, velvety. This is one of the things that draws me to the sewing machine rather than the pencil.
Qualifications and training
- 2002 MA Fine Art Textiles, Goldsmiths College, London
- 1998 BA (Hons) Textiles (Print), Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Farnham
Employment
- 2003 Lecturer, K College, Ashford, Kent
Solo exhibitions
- 2012 Stitch Draw, Ripley Arts Centre, Bromley (more info)
- 2012 Crowd Cloud, Port Moody Arts Centre, Port Moody, Canada
- 2012 Passing Reflections, Rochester Art Gallery, Rochester (more info)
- 2008 Drawing in Stitch, Ripley Arts Centre, Bromley
Group exhibitions
- 2011 Twisted, Phoenix Gallery Brighton, Brighton (more info)
- 2011 Drawing with Thread, Shiren Hall Gallery, Stafford (more info)
- 2011 Drawing with Thread, Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford
- 2011 Making Connections introducing AiR, The Lightbox Woking, Woking (more info)
- 2010 Artists in Residence, Crafts Study Centre, Farnham (more info)
- 2010 Darboard for Witches, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
- 2010 Dartboard for Witches, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth (more info)
- 2010 A.I.R Artists in Residence, UCA Farnham, Farnham (more info)
- 2010 2 Textile Artists at Farnham Maltings, Farnham Maltings, Farnham (more info)
- 2009 Contemporary Textiles, Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, Cwmbran (more info)
- 2009 Knitting and Stitching show, Alexandra Palace, London, London (more info)
- 2009 TEN, Bilston Craft Gallery, wolverhampton (more info)
- 2009 Fabricate International 2009, Malvern artists Society Gallery, Melbourne (more info)
- 2009 5th Anniversary Art Auction, The Horsebridge Centre, Whitstable (more info)
- 2008 Maidstone Contemporary Art, Craft & Design Exhibition, Graham Clarke Gallery, Hazlitt Arts Centre, Maidstone, Maidstone (more info)
- 2008 Mama's Arts, Geborgen Kamers, The Hague, Holland (more info)
- 2008 Canterbury Art Fair, University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury (more info)
- 2008 Art London, Royal Hospital Chelsea, London (more info)
- 2008 Art of the Stitch, Deutsches textilmuseum Krefeld, Krefeld (more info)
- 2008 Affordable Art Fair New York, Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street, NYC, New York (more info)
- 2008 Affordable Art Fair, The Passenger Shed, Temple Meads, Bristol (more info)
- 2008 Art of the Stitch, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham (more info)
- 2007 Canterbury Festival Art Fair, UCCA, New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent. CT1 3AN, Canterbury (more info)
- 2007 Brighton Festival Fringe Open House, Open House, 14a Clarendon Villas, Hove, Hove (more info)
- 2007 Stitch, artworks-mk, Milton Keynes (more info)
- 2007 A1 Open Exhibition, The Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre, Whitstable (more info)
- 2007 Stitched Up - Contemporary Textiles, Crescent Arts, Scarborough
- 2006 Bentlif Art Prize Exhibition 2006, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery, Maidstone (more info)
- 2006 Medway Arts Festival, Eastgate, Rochester, Kent
- 2005 MESH, Broadway Market, London
- 2005 South East Open Studios, Portico Gallery, Sevenoaks
- 2004 Soft Sculpture, The Art House, Hants
- 2003 False Impressions, University of Essex Gallery, Colchester
- 2003 Speaking Volumes, Stroud House Gallery, Stroud
Residencies
- 2008 Artist in Residence, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, Surrey.
Public commissions
- 2010 Ordsall Hall, Salford City Council, Ordsall Hall Salford
- 2009 BSC Building, Vale of Glamorgan council, Barry, Wales
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2006 Bentlif Art Prize, Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, Maidstone, Kent
Publications
- 2010 Drawn to Stitch by Gwen Hedley
- 2008 Art of the Stitch
Web links - gallery/work/projects
Personal website
