Donna Cheshire Textile Art
Contact: lovetextiles@yahoo.co.uk
Professional Training and Qualifications
2009 – GLEAM Creative Entrepreneur training
2000 – 2001 National qualification in Gifted & Talented Education Westminster Institute Oxford Brookes University (P.T course
MA Design 1998 Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds
PGCE Textile Arts 1991 Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds
Associateship of the Textile Institute (2:1 equiv.) Textile Design Huddersfield University
HND Textiles 1989 Huddersfield University
Awards
Gold Award winner for Textile Art (2016)
Craft & Design Magazine Selected Maker Awards
Professional Practice
Full time Artist (2007 – ongoing)
Working as a professional artist, selling my work and running workshops through galleries and other venues.
Working to commission on public and private projects including work for schools and community groups
Lecturer and Tutor for Embroiderers’ Guild branches and Textile Groups on Freelance basis
Costume Design Unit Tutor for Btec Circus programme, Circus Central
Public Engagement
Freelance Artist/Workshop Facilitator
Biscuit Factory gallery Newcastle upon Tyne
Preparing and delivering public workshop in the gallery
Art Diamonds Gateshead Community Arts Team
Preparing and delivering workshops for older people in the Gateshead area
Shipley Art Gallery Tyne & Wear Museums Learning and Community Engagement
Preparing and delivering public workshops in the museum
Room For You Arts in Health July 2016 – March 2021 (Charity – closed in 2021)
Preparing and delivering creative workshops on a weekly basis, for cancer patients and their families in hospital settings.
The Crafty Hen 2014 -2021 http://www.thecraftyhen.co.uk
Preparing and delivering creative workshops to groups, usually Hen Parties, in various settings.
School/Community Projects
2022 Outwood Primary Academy, Alne
Jubilee banner with Y5/6
Preston Grange Primary School
Whole school Silk Painting project
2021 Byker Children and Young People’s Project
Garden Fence gallery
Gateshead Big Local
Proggy Rug project
2019 Chopwell Quick Crafters
Community Centre Banner Project
2018 Chillingham Road Primary School
Whole school WW1 Centenary project
Which CraftCommunity Group South Charlton
Seasonal Banners for the Village Hall
2016 Greenside Primary School
The Last Shift Banner project – whole school
Heaton Baptist Church
My Journey Banner project
2015 Heaton Festival
Community Map project for the festival
2014 Chillingham Road Primary School
Proggy Rug project for pupils and care givers
Recent Exhibitions
2022 Art in the Pen, Skipton
2021 Fusion ‘Extended’ Textile Art Exhibition
Bailiffgate Museum & Art Gallery, Alnwick (Nov ’20 -Jan ’21)
Gateshead Library Gallery (Nov ’21 – Jan ’22)
2019 21 Years of an Angel – Gateshead Library
2018 Open:Ocean exhibition at Woodhorn Colliery Museum
2017 British Craft Trade Fair, Harrogate
Fusion ‘Connections’ Exhibition Gallery 45 Felton, Northumberland
Great North Art Show, Richmond, North Yorkshire
2016 ‘Coast’ Exhibition Gallery 45 Felton, Northumberland
Great North Art Show, Richmond, North Yorkshire
2015 Contemporary Textiles Fair Landmark Arts Centre Teddington London (March)
Essex Craft & Design Fair RHS Hyde Hall Essex (May)
Fusion Textile Network – Group Exhibition Farfield Mill Art Gallery, Sedburgh (June)
Carlisle Arts Fair, Sands Centre, Carlisle (August)
2014 Fusion Textile Network – Group Exhibition Castle Douglas Art Gallery
Network Artists North East Studio Art Tour
2013 Contemporary Textiles Fair Teddington London,
Publications
2016 Craft & Design magazine March/April edition
2015 Cloth Paper Scissors July/August Edition feature on ‘Day Trippers’ series
2014 Contemporary Appliqué by Julia Triston/Rachel Lombard
features images of my work
Employment
Relief Life Skills Co-ordinator 2013- 2015 Day Break (Now www.journeyenterprises.com)
Strand Co-ordinator For Gifted And Talented Children 2000 – 2007
Sunderland Excellence In Cities Programme, Sunderland City Council
Art & Textiles Tutor 1991 – 1998
Winstanley Sixth Form College Winstanley Road Orrell Wigan WN5 7XF
Teaching art, art history and textiles to post 16 students studying for GCSE, A level and Foundation courses.
Skills
- Creative – my specialist skills are free machine embroidery, appliqué, dyeing and printing
I am also proficient in a wide range of art media – skills learnt during my 7 years as a teacher of Art A level and Foundation courses and my work as a community artist.
- Interpersonal – In my work I communicate with members of the public, showing empathy and encouragement, sharing and developing creative skills. Working with Cancer patients requires me to be friendly, discrete, caring, and considerate of the participants needs and ability. Working with adults with learning difficulties required me to break projects down into manageable task, ensuring that foundation skills were in place so that more advanced activities could be undertaken. I am positive, friendly and open in my work with others.
- Communication – My verbal and written skills are strong. I am able to write project briefs, evaluate and summarise the outcomes. In my previous education career I organized local and regional conferences and events, presenting sessions to groups of education professionals. I am also booked to deliver my own presentations on aspects of textile arts to groups across the region on a regular basis.
- Project Management – I combine the planning and delivery of Arts in Health workshops with producing my own work for commission, exhibitions and events. This involves all elements of running a freelance creative business – finance, marketing, research and meeting deadlines.
- Flexibility and adaptability – I have devised and delivered projects for groups of all ages and abilities. I have worked in many different settings and am used to assessing the needs of a group and devising a project to suit.I am available to work during the week and at weekends
2016 Craft & Design Selected Maker Gold Award for Textiles & Needlecrafts
Education
2009 – GLEAM Creative Entrepreneur training
2000 – 2001 National qualification in Gifted & Talented Education Westminster Institute Oxford Brookes University (P.T course
1996-1998 MA Design Bretton Hall College (P.T course)
1995 Awarded Charted Membership. Associateship of the Textile Institute
1990-1991 PGCE Textile Arts Bretton Hall College University of Leeds
1988-1989 Associateship of the Textile Institute Huddersfield University (2:1 equiv.)
1986-1988 HND Btec Design (Textiles) Huddersfield University
Employment
July 2015- 2021 Freelance Artist for ‘Room For You’ Arts in Health
May 2008 – Freelance Artist
9/2000 – 3/2008 Strand Co-ordinator for Gifted & Talented Pupils, Sunderland EiC Partnership (Part-time since 09/03)
9/99 to 7/2000 P.T Lecturer at University of Northumbria Secondary ITT course (Textiles)
4/99 to 8/99 P.T Tutor for Art & Design at HMP Acklington and HMYOI Castington, Northumberland.
11/98 to 5/99 P.T Art Ambassador at the Laing Art Gallery. Newcastle upon Tyne
9/98 to 10/98 Supply teacher for Art & Design at Durham Gilesgate Comprehensive.
9/97-8/98 Art tutor and 2nd in department Winstanley College, Wigan (part time)
9/91-8/97 Art tutor at Winstanley College, including duties as second and acting head of department (full time)
Group Membership
2014 –2021 Network Artists North East ( board member 2014-15)
2008 – 2022 Fusion Textile Artists Network
Group Exhibitions
2022
Art in the Pen, Skipton
2021
Fusion ‘Extended’ Textile Art Exhibition
Bailiffgate Museum & Art Gallery, Alnwick (Nov ’20 -Jan ’21)
Gateshead Library Gallery (Nov ’21 – Jan ’22)
2019
21 Years of an Angel – Gateshead Library
2018
Open:Ocean exhibition at Woodhorn Colliery Museum
2017
British Craft Trade Fair, Harrogate
Fusion ‘Connections’ Exhibition Gallery 45 Felton, Northumberland
Great North Art Show, Richmond, North Yorkshire
2016
‘Coast’ Exhibition Gallery 45 Felton, Northumberland
Great North Art Show, Richmond, North Yorkshire
2015
Contemporary Textiles Fair Landmark Arts Centre Teddington London (March)
Essex Craft & Design Fair RHS Hyde Hall Essex (May)
Fusion Textile Network – Group Exhibition Farfield Mill Art Gallery, Sedburgh (June)
Carlisle Arts Fair, Sands Centre, Carlisle (August)
2014
Fusion Textile Network – Group Exhibition Castle Douglas Art Gallery
Network Artists North East Studio Art Tour
2013
Contemporary Textiles Fair Teddington London,
Simple Things Exhibition Washington Arts Centre, Tyne & Wear
Essex Craft & Design Show
Richmond Designer Craft Market
2012
British Craft Trade Fair Harrogate
Fusion Textile Network Ten Year Retrospective The Wolds Gallery, Yorkshire
2010 British Craft Trade Fair Harrogate,
Manchester Royal Exchange Gallery,
Leeds City Craft Gallery
The Biscuit Factory Newcastle Summer Shows
Commissions & Workshops
2022
Various workshops for Art Diamonds, Gateshead arts Team
Textile art workshops at The Biscuit factory Gallery, Newcastle
Textile Art Workshop Outwood Academy Alne, North Yorkshire
2021
Garden Fence Gallery Community Project for Byker Children & Young People’s project
Art Diamonds Penpals postal workshops for Gateshead Arts
2020
Costume Design Unit for Btec Circus programme
Online workshops for community groups
2019
Chopwell Quick Crafters Community Art Project
2018
Chillingham Road Primary School WW1 Centenary Project
Which Craft, South Charlton Community Art project for the Village Hall
Needle felted Angel workshop for the Gateshead Angel 20 programme
Talks and workshops for Embroiderers’ Guild groups across the region.
2017 Private commission for “High Strung Hills”
2016 Room for You Arts in Health art workshops in hospitals
Greenside Primary School ‘The Last Shift’ Banner project
My Journey commission and workshops for Heaton Baptist Church
Freestyle Machine Embroidery Workshop for Weave/Creative Futures programme
Bespoke Brooches – An Introduction to Needle Felting private workshops
Textile 1/2 day presentation Embroiderers Guild in Hexham
2015 The Heaton Map commission and workshops for Heaton Festival, Newcastle
Textile Art Workshop 1 day workshop at Beech Hill Primary School, Newcastle
Tin Can Workshop 1 day workshop at Duchess High School, Alnwick, Northumberland
Needle Felt Hearts ½ day workshop at Northumberland Cof E Academy
Daybreak Mission Statement Mural for Daybreak Northumbria at Cowgate, Newcastle
Textile 1/2 day presentation Embroiderers Guild in Durham
Textile 1 day Workshop Embroiderers Guild in Darlington
2014 Tin Can Workshop 1 day public workshop at Gateshead Library
Needle Felt Hearts workshop series for Gateshead Arts Development team
Proggy Rug Project Design & Pupil Workshops Chillingham Road Primary School
Textile 1 day Workshops Embroiderers Guild in Newcastle & in Hartlepool.
Publications
2016 Craft & Design magazine March/April edition
2015 Cloth Paper Scissors July/August Edition feature on ‘Day Trippers’ series
2014 Contemporary Appliqué by Julia Triston/Rachel Lombard features images of my work
Donna Cheshire Textiles 