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I saw this on the bookshelves at the Design Museum, and immediately lusted over it. Written by Nicholas Fox Weber and published by Phaidon in 2020, it's a spectacular and unprecedented visual biography of textile designer Anni and her artist husband Josef Albers. They are among the twentieth century's most important abstract artists, and this is the first monograph to celebrate the rich creative output and beguiling relationship of these two masters in one elegant volume.
A poster I saw online, advertising the 2019 'Kurt Schwitters: A Selection of Collages', exhibition at the Nahmad Contemporary Gallery, in New York. It highlighted a collection of abstract collages that the artist created between the 1920s and 1940s.
"I could see no reason why used tram tickets, bits of driftwood, buttons and old junk from attics and rubbish heaps should not serve well as materials for paintings; they suited the purpose just as well as factory-made paints."- Schwitters
I saw this exquisite linocut in the Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield today. I love it. It's called 'Waterfall', and it's by Gertrude Hermes.
"There was always the potential for bursting dams in the watery worlds Hermes concocted, but this linocut is also about the small liquid beginnings that can bring about great rumblings of noise and activity." (The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: A Chronicle, 1769–2018)
A sneak preview of a new series of prints I've been working on. Not had any time to design so hoping to squeeze a collection out for this spring.
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I've recently had a baby boy with Jen- we have called our lad Jos.
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I'll try and post more regularly now!
Went to a brilliant free exhibition at the British Museum today, called Artists Making Books. This is from a brilliant folktale book “La Souris” by the Lebanese artist Chafik Abboud.
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Abboud has illustrated and written the text in his own hand, a French tale about a couple who were unable to have children.
I live in Plaistow, East London. Part of the print heritage of the area is the at the famous print studio Curwen Press were founded there in 1958 under the amangement of the great printer Stanley Jones. It later moved from the area in 1963.
The picture is of Peter Baer, Stanley Jones and David Zaig outside the main door in 1960.
Dead chuffed to be in the 19th edition of my favourite print journal @pressingmattersmag in a Q&A article alongside the extremely talented @louisaloakes and @maddercutchandco
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I am Course Leader of the BA (Hons.) Fashion & Printed Textiles degree programme at University College Colchester, and I was very proud to undertake my first fashion show at Firstsite Gallery in Colchester. A proud day.
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Who knew, after first going to this amazing gallery ten years ago to see my favourite ever exhibition- "Nigel Henderson and Eduardo Paolozzi: Hammer Prints Ltd 1954–75" in 2013- I would be working in Colchester and taking part in an exhibition there!
I visited the breathtaking Beth Chatto Gardens in North Essex today. Beth was an award-winning plantswoman, author and lecturer. Her work here at the Gardens began in 1960. She took an overgrown wasteland of brambles, parched gravel and boggy ditches, transforming it using plants adapted by nature to thrive in different conditions: right plant, right place. An inspirational, informal garden has developed.
Whilst visiting Copenhagen this weekend I discovered the Danish design genius that is Axel Salto.
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Known primarily as a ceramicist, his work also included painting, graphic design, and illustrations for books, jewellery and textiles (which most interested me).
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In 1916, Salto visited Paris, where he met Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. This meeting became a landmark for Salto's artistic ambitions and his influence on the pioneering ideas of the time.
I visited my favourite Stoke Newington homeware shop and current stockist Know & Love this sunny Saturday.
Know & Love is all about personal connection and community. For every product there is a heartfelt story of friendship, family, memory or local connection.
The products are practical, stylish and mainly hand crafted homewares with an emphasis on simplicity, authenticity and natural materials.
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The shop has recently been renovated so the shopping experience is amazing too!
My handprinted small fabric bags can be used everyday inside a larger bag to keep everyday essentials - jewellery for instance, as in here to hold ‘Memphis’ earrings from Jack and Freda.
Works equally well as a pouch or wallet to keep passport, Penguin Classic or plane and train tickets when travelling.
Seeing how my pattern and palette work together today. Attempting to define new aesthetics through CMF ‘mood board’ arrangements.
I teach three practical “textile processes” modules at University College Colchester.
During the screen printing workshops, I help the students to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of historical and contemporary theories of art, further enhancing their critical and theoretical underpinning of their practice.
Welcome to my news page!
It will be updated as often as possible, in the hope that I'll share free and useful information about my work.
Thanks for reading!