ABOUT
Photo: Tas Kyprianou / Crafts Council
Originally from Derby, I studied Computer Science at York University in the early 1980s. I worked for a decade as a designer, developer and researcher of interactive multimedia and subsequently as a technology research manager.
While traveling in the Middle East in 1997 I had a Road to Damascus moment that forced me to acknowledge my latent interest in textiles.
I acquired a loom and started to weave in my spare time, developing my skills gradually, then formally through a part-time HNC course and a Textile Design degree. I established my textile design business in 2011 and now design geometric textiles that explore pattern, contrast and colour.
My design process is both structured and exploratory. I start at the computer using a spreadsheet like electronic graph paper, to investigate an idea and develop woven textile designs. I then move to the loom and weave samples of these designs, combining patterns and experimenting with yarn colours.
I enjoy the rhythm of handweaving and the attention to detail that this process affords. Designing and developing a woven textile from start to finish, from concept to cloth, by hand is a very satisfying, but slow, process.
I love to explore the interaction of colour between warp and weft, and the contrast between dark and light colour values; developing surprising combinations within a rich autumnal palette. As a man in the predominantly female world of textile design, I am particularly keen to ensure that my work includes designs and colours that will appeal to men.
Since 2011 I have made scarves for sale, weaving them on a small eight-shaft table loom and selling online and at major craft fairs. With the recent acquisition of a floor loom, I am now able to make larger work.
In 2014, I was a participant in the Crafts Council’s Hothouse maker development programme. My experience on this scheme led to a new direction, and I was fortunate to be awarded a grant by Arts Council England (National Lottery funding through the Grants for the Arts scheme) to create a series of non-functional woven textiles based on the mathematical idea of Permutations. This work was first shown in an exhibition at New Brewery Arts, Cirencester in June 2015.
In 2016 I developed a project When Waves Collide with funding from Arts Council England and Coventry City Council. A select of the resulting textiles are currently on show in the touring exhibition Made in the Middle.
CV
Employment
Theo Wright : Designer & Weaver - Business owner 2011 – present
Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers - Volunteer: Secretary 2012 – 2016
The Weavers’ Workshop, Coventry - Volunteer: Project development & delivery 2013 – present
Wallace Sewell, London - Work placement 2010
Interactive media design and development, technology research and project management 1985 – 2009
Exhibitions / Craft Fairs
MADE London 2014, 2015, 2017 (Marylebone) 2017 (Canary Wharf)
(winner of the COVER Magazine award for Best Textile Exhibitor at MADE London 2017)
Made In The Middle, touring UK Midlands venues, 2016 - 2018
(winner of the craft&design Best Newcomer to Made in the Middle prize)
CET Building, Coventry 2018
Walford Mill, Dorset 2017
Festival of Crafts, Farnham, 2017
Made by Hand Wales, Cardiff, 2017
Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey 2014, 2017
Weavelength solo show, Craft Central, London, 2016
Wirksworh Festival Arts & Architecture Trail, 2016
Complexity, Illinois USA, 2016
Coventry Open, 2016
Nesta, 2015-16
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, 2015, 2017
New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, 2015
GNCCF, Manchester 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
MADE, Brighton 2013, 2014, 2015
Christmas Craft Market, MAC, Birmingham 2012, 2014-17
Made in Clerkenwell, Craft Central, London 2012-16
Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair 2014
Warwickshire Open Studios, Coventry 2013, 2017
GIFT, Yorkshire Craft Centre 2012
New Designers, London 2011
Press/Articles
"When Waves Collide", Complex Weavers Journal 113 (February 2017) pp 6-9
"Theo Wright: Handweaver", Craft & Design 250 (March/April 2017) pp 42-44
"Weaving Permutations", Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers 258 (Summer 2016) pp 29-32
Grants and business development
Arts Council England (Grants for the Arts) & Coventry City Council funding for the When Waves Collide project 2016
Arts Council England (Grants for the Arts) funding for the Permutations project 2014/15
Crafts Council Hothouse4 (Midlands) - Business training and professional development programme 2014
Airmail (Coventry Artists project) 2013
Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers - CPD bursary 2013
Creative Industries Business Bootcamp, Central St Martins, London 2011
Education
BA (Hons) Textile Design (1st class) - University College Falmouth 2009 – 2011
HNC Fashion & Textiles - Bradford College 2007 - 2009
BSc (Hons) Computer Science - York University 1979 – 1982
Theo Wright : Designer & Weaver - Business owner 2011 – present
Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers - Volunteer: Secretary 2012 – 2016
The Weavers’ Workshop, Coventry - Volunteer: Project development & delivery 2013 – present
Wallace Sewell, London - Work placement 2010
Interactive media design and development, technology research and project management 1985 – 2009
Exhibitions / Craft Fairs
MADE London 2014, 2015, 2017 (Marylebone) 2017 (Canary Wharf)
(winner of the COVER Magazine award for Best Textile Exhibitor at MADE London 2017)
Made In The Middle, touring UK Midlands venues, 2016 - 2018
(winner of the craft&design Best Newcomer to Made in the Middle prize)
CET Building, Coventry 2018
Walford Mill, Dorset 2017
Festival of Crafts, Farnham, 2017
Made by Hand Wales, Cardiff, 2017
Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey 2014, 2017
Weavelength solo show, Craft Central, London, 2016
Wirksworh Festival Arts & Architecture Trail, 2016
Complexity, Illinois USA, 2016
Coventry Open, 2016
Nesta, 2015-16
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, 2015, 2017
New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, 2015
GNCCF, Manchester 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
MADE, Brighton 2013, 2014, 2015
Christmas Craft Market, MAC, Birmingham 2012, 2014-17
Made in Clerkenwell, Craft Central, London 2012-16
Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair 2014
Warwickshire Open Studios, Coventry 2013, 2017
GIFT, Yorkshire Craft Centre 2012
New Designers, London 2011
Press/Articles
"When Waves Collide", Complex Weavers Journal 113 (February 2017) pp 6-9
"Theo Wright: Handweaver", Craft & Design 250 (March/April 2017) pp 42-44
"Weaving Permutations", Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers 258 (Summer 2016) pp 29-32
Grants and business development
Arts Council England (Grants for the Arts) & Coventry City Council funding for the When Waves Collide project 2016
Arts Council England (Grants for the Arts) funding for the Permutations project 2014/15
Crafts Council Hothouse4 (Midlands) - Business training and professional development programme 2014
Airmail (Coventry Artists project) 2013
Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers - CPD bursary 2013
Creative Industries Business Bootcamp, Central St Martins, London 2011
Education
BA (Hons) Textile Design (1st class) - University College Falmouth 2009 – 2011
HNC Fashion & Textiles - Bradford College 2007 - 2009
BSc (Hons) Computer Science - York University 1979 – 1982
