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PERSONAL PROFILE

Darren trained in Fashion Textiles, specializing in hand knit.  He taught himself free machine embroidery whilst teaching art and textiles in secondary and further education.  He now focusses on his machine embroidery producing framed, bespoke embroideries from his new home in Wales.  Darren uses applique and machine embroidery to illustrate personal narratives or ideas, inspired by memorabilia or his collection of vintage Stitchcraft knitting and embroidery magazines.  He works with vintage and repurposed fabrics which he has collected over several years, these create a found palette of colour.  The bespoke nature of his work is emphasized by his use of vintage handkerchiefs in combination with his unique knitting skills to create his pieces.  Darren is an alumnus of the Crafts Council Hothouse programme.

 

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

MA Textile Culture                                    Norwich School of Art and Design (2003-04)

Postgraduate Art Teacher’s Certificate         Cardiff Institute of Higher Education (1993-94)

BA (Hons) (First) Fashion/Textiles               Middlesex Polytechnic (1987-90)

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EMPLOYMENT/CAREER HISTORY

Textile Artist                                           2015-present

Teacher of Art and Textiles                        1994-2022

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Crafts Council Directory 2019

Design Nation 2019

Society of Designer Craftsmen 2017

The Sussex Guild 2015-23

Makers Guild Wales 2025

The Textile Society

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MOST RECENT EXHIBITIONS

2025           Enchanted Forest, Christmas Exhibition Makers Guild Wales, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff

2025           New Members Work Makers Guild Wales 8 Aug-7 Sept, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff

2025           Stitch by Stitch 5 Jul-30 Aug, Willow Gallery, Oswestry

2025           Celebrating Stitchcraft 17 Jun-18 Oct, Chertsey Museum, Chertsey

2025           Broderers’ Exhibition 2025 25 Feb-2 Mar, Bankside Gallery, London

2024           GNCCF 17-20 Oct, Design Nation Sustainability & Ethical Practice, Manchester

2024           Craftworks 15-17 May, Shoreditch Town Hall

2023           Made Brighton 2023, Brighton Dome

2023           Made London 2023, Islington

2023           Solo Exhibition 14 Mar-7 May, The Sunbury Embroidery Gallery, Sunbury-on-Thames

2022           ING Discerning Eye 2022, Mall Gallery

2022           Young Masters Art Exhibition Part 2, Exhibitionist Hotel, London

2022           Atelier Beside the Sea Open, Brighton

2022           Transformations SDC exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London

2021           Form Made From  Chelsea Harbour Design Centre

2021           Collect 2021 Contemporary Craft Fair on Artsy.net

2020           ING Discerning Eye, online show

2020           RWA 168th Open Exhibition, Bristol

2020           Rising Stars 2020, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham

2020           The Craft Centre and Design Gallery Leeds

2019           Brighton Art Fair, Lewes

2019           ING Discerning Eye 2019, Mall Gallery

2019           Made London 2019, Marylebone

2019           North Surrey SDC exhibition, Robert Phillips Gallery, Walton on Thames

2018           Sparkle, Landmark Art Centre, Teddington

2018           Sussex Guild Craft show, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea

2018           Designer Crafts Exhibition, Chelsea College of Arts, London

2018           Contemporary Textiles Fair, Landmark Art Centre, Teddington

2017           Sparkle, Landmark Art Centre, Teddington

2017           Design & Craft Fair featuring Made, West Dean

2017           Contemporary Textiles Fair, Landmark Art Centre, Teddington

2017           Member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen (SDC)

2016           Contemporary Textiles Fair, Landmark Art Centre, Teddington

2016           Design & Craft Fair featuring Made, West Dean

2016           Sussex Guild Craft show, Michelham Priory

2016           Brighton Art Fair

2015           Sussex Guild Craft show, Michelham Priory and Midhurst Rother College

2015           Member of the Sussex Guild of Designer Makers

2013           Autumn Art Fair, Landmark Art Centre, Teddington

2012           Selected for Surrey Open Art Exhibition, Lightbox Gallery, Woking

2006           Selected for Open Exhibition, Black Swan Arts

2005           ‘Eat Art’ Exhibition, Robert Phillips Gallery, Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames.

 

PROFESSIONALLY RELATED EXPERIENCE

2019           Selection for Crafts Council Hothouse 2019

2019           Crafts Council Directory

1991           National finalist in ‘Clothes Show/Brother Knitting Competition

1990           Texprint Interstoft ‘Graduate design linked to industry a Focus of Excellence’