Bobby Britnell
Bobby Britnell. Making 50 ‘Plus One, Less One’ (detail) 2023
Bobby Britnell. Crossing the Line, (detail) Series of works exploring the potential of Bark Cloth. Patching using raffia, as carried out in Uganda.
Bobby Britnell. Making 50 ‘Plus One, Less One’ 2023
Bobby Britnell, Sketchbook Study Drawing preparation for Crossing the Line series of work.
Bobby Britnell. Making 50 ‘Plus One, Less One’ (detail) 2023
Bobby Britnell. Ensamu 2021 Photo, Electric Egg.
Bobby Britnell. Ensamu (detail) 2021 Photo Electric Egg.
Bobby Britnell. Samples and Sketchbook Work 2020 photo, Electric Egg.
Bobby Britnell. Drawing (detail) 2020 Photo, Electric Egg.
Artist statement
I love drawing and painting and both are important parts of my working practise. The beautiful Shropshire Countryside where I live and work, is reflected in these aspects of my work. Marks and surfaces underfoot and all around me and the process of making these marks on cloth, has played its part in recent works. I enjoy the entire process of designing and drawing and an important stage in formualting ideas, is to start by making bold drawn statements in charcoal and pencil.
My current practise still involves me in the use of Bark Cloth from Southern Uganda and recent investigations has employed this interesting raw material to create larger works. For ‘Insights’ in 2020, I used the cloth as a ground fabric for drawing and painting onto and for our exhibition in 2023 I have experimented solely in stab-stitch to create a grid design for ‘Making 50’. Bark Cloth has kept me occupied now for several years in exploring its potential for print, stitch and other surface design.
I have been involved in textiles for over 45 years, initially working in theatre costume and tailoring, before qualifying as a teacher. My own teaching takes me all over the country and abroad. I have worked in schools, for community groups, for guilds and taught on the BA Stitched Textiles Degree programme for the Julia Caprara School of Stitched Textiles. In recent years I have been developing on-line teaching courses using a variety of different formats and packages for students. Face to face courses at Moor Hall, still keeps me active and I bring in tutors, including Textile Study Group tutors, to teach at my studio with students coming from all over the world.
My first book was published in April 2013 and reprinted in 2020.
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