Author: Alice Fox

Introducing…

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Introducing…

We are thrilled to announce we have two new members who recently joined the Textile Study Group.

The first of these is Jenny Waterson. Jenny is based in Greater Manchester and brings her weave specialism to the group.

Jenny  explains:

“I am an artist weaver creating my own vocabulary of symbols in weave around themes of ambiguity, generational geographies and human experience. 

Recent work reflects my experience as the mother of a young adult changing their gender identity. I weave transitional pattern and colour sequences to explore evolving narratives of identity, belonging and motherhood. My weaving brings together old and new in a sampler format, reconstructing traditional textile imagery to question socio-political frameworks and offer new, inclusive meanings.

Following a career as a textile designer and trend consultant, and more recently as an exhibitions and learning curator, my focus now is my own practice as an artist and educator. Alongside my weaving, I teach creative textile workshops for arts, heritage and community organisations.

I am delighted to be a new member of the Textile Study Group. Membership for me means being part of a welcoming group, where I can connect with other textile artists/tutors and support each other creatively. I’m really looking forward to developing my work as part of the weekend workshops, and especially to exhibiting with the group. “

BECOMING (kaleidos) by Jenny Waterson 54 x 43 cm, 2025.
 
Hand weave and embroidery in wool, rayon and Lurex, with brass rods. 

Seven Bags Full

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2.10.25 – 1.11.25

Thur – Sun 11am -4pm, Birley Studios, Preston

Part of the British Textiles Biennial 2025

An exhibition of mixed media and textile works by 16 members of the Textile Study Group, responding to the biennial themes and using polyester fabric offcuts from Blackburn based Edward Taylor Textiles, who specialise in the production of sportswear.

The British Textiles Biennial is focusing this year on invention and innovation, past present and future. Artists are looking back at the textile pioneers of the 20th century; the Lancashire textile industries being inspired by a bold vision of the future that revolutionised our lives. It asks us to look at how our own material future can learn from that past which is almost lost to us.

Clothing the people that conquered the sky, the mountains and the oceans with manmade fabrics and chemical concoctions, innovators did not realise the toll they would take on the planet.

Now we must reach back to the past to rediscover nature’s own innovation and how we might harness it to begin to repair and regenerate, exploring indigenous practices that still carry that knowledge and point to new solutions to heal what we once sought to dominate.

Edward Taylor Textiles has donated off-cuts of Polyester for the group to respond to and use for this exhibition. The part of the company this comes from is their high-performance sportswear department, mostly football shirts. Most of the cloth is white and stretchy, with some colour blocks and there are different grades and weights. The sports shirts are cut economically, using a cutting machine, before they are printed using sublimation printing on heat presses.  They are then sewn after printing. So, the remnants we have are often shaped as the negative of the shirt pieces. The title of the exhibition refers to the bags of offcuts being delivered to us.

The Birley is located round the corner from the newly opened Harris Museum, and it will be possible to include a visit to our exhibition in a tour of other venues.

Summer School 2026: ANIMATE

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Summer School 2026: ANIMATE

This is a residential Summer School tutored by Textile Study Group members and open to everyone.

Our 2026 Summer School will be inspired by the themes of extract and animate. Each course will guide you through innovative approaches to a specific subject matter. You’ll explore captivating figurative and floral symbolism, create vibrant collages, and delve into the fascinating realms of design and composition. Immerse yourself in these dynamic explorations that will enrich your textile practice, providing gentle encouragement and support along the way.

Courses will be tutored by TSG members Vivienne Beaumont, Bobby Britnell and Ruth Issett.

Where: Hillscourt Hotel and Venue, Rose Hill, Rednal, Birmingham B45 8RS

When: Monday 13 – Thursday 16 July 2026

Full details will be on our website from September 22nd 2025 

Booking will open on October 13th 2025.