Theo Wright : Handwoven
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ABOUT

Theo Wright portrait photoPhoto: 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 Ashford eight-shaft table loom and selling online and at major craft fairs. With the recent acquisition of a Lou
ët 16-shaft 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 were shown in the touring exhibition Made in the Middle 2016 - 2018.

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

Coventry Open, 2018
Rugby Open, 2018
​MADE London 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018
Made In The Middle, touring UK Midlands venues, 2016 - 2018
​Lustre, Nottingham 2018
Blackthorpe Barn, 2018
Handweavers Studio & Gallery, London 2018
New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham 2018
CET Building, Coventry 2018
​
Festival of Crafts, Farnham, 2017, 2018
Warwickshire Open Studios, Coventry 2013, 2017, 2018
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, 2015, 2017, 2018
Christmas Craft Market, MAC, Birmingham 2012, 2014-18
Walford Mill, Dorset 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
Nesta, 2015-16

GNCCF, Manchester 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Made in Clerkenwell, Craft Central, London 2012-16

New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, 2015
MADE, Brighton 2013, 2014, 2015

Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair 2014
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  funding for the Out of Synch project 2018/19
Arts Council England & Coventry City Council funding for the When Waves Collide project 2016-18
Arts Council England  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 

 



Picture
Copyright © Theo Wright. All rights reserved.