Christine Meyer-Eaglestone FSDC

Christine Meyer-Eaglestone's marquetry surface designs on wall-based artworks and functional pieces play with spatial illusion through vibrant use of colour, bold geometry and architectural reference.

She doesn't visualize a design on paper other than a very rough sketch, preferring instead to think through making. This process starts by surrounding herself with a large selection of both conventional and 'reconstructed' wood veneers, available in a multitude of colours and grain patterns and sourced from Italy where they are mostly created from fast-growing poplar. She continues by hand-cutting all veneers and using tape to join elements as this process allows her to let relationships of form, colour, texture and space evolve - the geometric forms she creates grow intuitively while seeking to construct alternative visual spaces.

Structure is central to her designs - balance, counterpoise, dynamic growth and rhythm are among the essential elements in her compositions. Working as fast as the medium allows, she manipulates line and colour, creates shapes and defines their edges, juxtaposes hard-edged geometry with organic pattern - sometimes creating tension and vitality and at other times imposing a sense of order and balance. Precision and craftsmanship are critical to her practice and this is never compromised by the apparent spontaneity of her designs.

She draws inspiration from architecture and music as well as the natural environment and among her influences lists early 20th century art and design (Cubism, Constructivism, Suprematism, Bauhaus etc.) as well as Japanese design.

Study

Christine was born in Germany and came to Britain having completed her school education and a three-year industrial commercial apprenticeship leading to a German Board of Trade qualification.

1971-74 BA Hons Fine Art, Leeds Polytechnic
1985-86 MA Fine Art (Sculpture), Manchester Polytechnic
1995-96 City & Guilds Cabinetmaking (Practical) & BTEC Interior Decoration, Leeds College of Art

Employment

1974-77 Lecturer in Art & Design at Wakefield Top Security Prison, Wakefield, W. Yorks.
1976-87 Lecturer in Art & Design at Bradford College, Bradford, W. Yorkshire

Exhibitions (Marquetry work)

2023

Wonder - SDC Summer exhibition 2023 at Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester

2022

Transformations - Society of Designer Craftsmen exhibition at Bankside Gallery London

Collect 2022 - The leading international fair for contemporary craft & design

with Design Nation at Somerset House, London and online @Artsy.net

2021

Collect 2021 - International Art Fair for Contemporary Craft and Design (online)

with Design Nation

2019

London Craft Week- The Future of Craft - Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf with Design Nation and Future Icons

Cut & Paste, Sunny Bank Mills Gallery, Leeds

Future Icons Showcase Exhibition, London

Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham

2018
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham
Designer Crafts 2018 - The Hand of the Maker, Society of Designer Craftsmen, Chelsea College of Arts, London
Design Nation at Eunique International Fair for Applied Arts, Germany
London Craft Week 2018 - Design Nation Showcase: 'Head, Hand & Heart', Helen Yardley Studio, London

2017
Launch of Craft Central at the Forge, London
Art & Show 2017, York, North Yorkshire, Solo
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Craft Central, London
London Craft Week - Design Nation Showcase, 'Marks & Tools', Oxo Tower Gallery

2016
Made London, One Marylebone, London, Solo
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham
Designer Crafts at the Mall 2016, SDC, Mall Galleries, London
Made in Clerkenwell Spring, Craft Central, London
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design - Selection, London

2015
Designer Crafts Xmas Market, SDC, Mall Galleries, London
Made London, One Marylebone, London, Solo
‘21st Century Furniture V’, The Millinery Works Gallery, London
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham
May Design Series, (CCD Stand), Excel, London
Designer Crafts at the Mall 2015, SDC, The Mall Galleries, London

2014
‘Northern Wood’, The White Room Gallery, Priestleys, York
Tent London & Super Brands, Old Truman Brewery, London, Solo
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham
Designer Makers Gallery, Interiors UK, NEC, Birmingham

2013
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham
‘Inspired’, The Hayloft Gallery, Ashton Court Estate, Bristol
‘Working Wood’, Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, Lancashire
‘Makers’, Cube Gallery, RIBA, Manchester
‘21st Century Furniture IV’, The Millinery Works Gallery, London

2012
‘Winter Lux’, Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, Lancashire

2011
Great Northern Contemporary Crafts Fair, Manchester, Solo
The Design Show, Liverpool Design Festival, Liverpool, Solo
Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham

2010
The Design Show, Liverpool Design Festival, Liverpool,Solo
‘Parallels’, Christine Meyer-Eaglestone, Southsquare Gallery, Bradford, Solo
Contemporary Furniture Exhibition, Tennants, Leyburn, N. Yorkshire

2009
‘Winter Wonders’, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey

2008
‘Home’, Gallerytop, Rowsley, Derbyshire
‘Monochrome – Excellence in Greyscale’, The Lund Gallery, Easingwold
‘Select’, The Grace Barrand Design Centre, Nutfield, Surrey

2007
‘Christmas Present’, The Grace Barrand Design Centre, Nutfield, Surrey
‘Winter Wonders’, The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire
‘Summer Exhibition’, The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
‘Wood’, The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
‘Painted Earth’, Broughton Gallery, Broughton, Nr. Biggar, Scotland
‘Inspired’, The Grace Barrand Design Centre, Nutfield, Surrey

2006
‘Christmas Exhibition’, Gallerytop, Rowsley, Derbyshire
‘Christmas Exhibition’,The Grace Barrand Design Centre, Nutfield, Surrey
‘Lustre’, Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham, Solo
‘Winter Exhibition’, The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
‘Summer Exhibition’, The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
‘Select’, The Grace Barrand Design Centre, Nutfield, Surrey

2005
‘Lustre’, Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham, Solo
Hereford Contemporary Crafts Fair , The Courtyard, Hereford, Solo
‘Winter Exhibition’’, The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
‘Winter Exhibition’’, The Grace Barrand Design Centre, Nutfield, Surrey
‘The Influence of Architecture’, Walford Mill Craft Centre, Dorset
‘Collectable’, The Grace Barrand Design Centre, Nutfield, Surrey
‘Summer Exhibition’, The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire

2004
‘The Object of Design’, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London
Chelsea Crafts Fair, London,Solo
Decorex International, Design Nation Stand, Chelsea, London
‘Against the Grain’, The Grace Barrand Design Centre, Nutfield, Surrey

2003
Urban Interiors, Commonwealth Institute, London, Solo
Chelsea Crafts Fair, London, Solo
‘Boxing Clever’, Derek Topp Gallery, Rowsley, Derbyshire
‘Functional, Practical, Beautiful’, The Bessemer Gallery, Sheffield
‘Contemporary Woodwork’, The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham
'Just Wood’, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff, Wales
‘The Art of Marquetry - Painting in Wood’, The Bowes Museum, Co.Durham
‘Furniture Maker Showcase Exhibition’, Beatrice Royal, Hampshire, Solo
‘Blue’, The Bessemer Gallery, Sheffield

2002
‘Beauty in Function’, with Design Nation, Yo No Bi, London
Exhibition in Wood, Dansel Gallery, Abbotsbury, Dorset
Christine Meyer-Eaglestone, Julia Heffer Gallery, Cambridge, Solo

2001
The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire
‘Outside-In’, Parkfields Gallery, Pontshill, Nr. Ross-on-Wye
Christine Meyer-Eaglestone, The Newlyn Gallery, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, Solo
Christine Meyer-Eaglestone, Original Arts Gallery, Harrogate, Solo

1999
New Designers, London

1995
Furniture Design Awards, Wembley Exhibition Centre, London, runner-up

Awards

2022 Gane Trust Award at SDC 'Transformations' exhibition at Bankside Gallery London

2018 Future Icons Award for Accessories (‘Cube Surround I’ wall-mirror)

2015 Fellowship of the Society of Designer Craftsmen

2015 Gane Trust Award - for excellence in quality of design and craftsmanship
2013 1st prize winner of ‘Functional Beauty’ at ‘Makers’, Cube Gallery, RIBA, Manchester
2003 BIDA Award for Outstanding Design at Urban Interiors, London (for 'Oriental Inspiration' screen)
2001 Crafts Council Setting-Up Grant
1995 Runner-Up Furniture Design Awards, Wembley Exhibition Centre, London

Press and Publications

Sept 2018 Encyclopedia of Woodworking Techniques – Jeremy Broun, Search Press
Aug 2017 Evening Standard ‘Thoroughly Modern Marquetry’ Barbara Chandler
May 2015 Sunday Times, Home/Interiors
Oct 2014 AD Architectural Digest - Best of Germany Issue, 'Kunst-Reich', Christine Meyer-Eaglestone
Sept 2014 Telegraph Magazine, ‘Design Special’
Sept 2014 House and Garden, Insider – Decorator’s Notebook
Feb 2014 Financial Times, ‘In the Veneer Future: a new angle on the old craft of Marquetry'
Dec 2013 Furniture & Cabinetmaking, Celebration of Craftsmanship, Cheltenham
Aug 2013 Furniture & Cabinetmaking, Winner of ‘Functional Beauty’ 1st prize at ‘Makers’
July 2013 Good Woodworking ‘Marquetry Award - Christine Meyer- Eaglestone’
May 2013 Furniture & Cabinetmaking, '21st Century Furniture IV, exhibition, London
Aug 2012 Freshome Design & Architecture, ‘The Secrets to a Successful Alliance in the World of Design'
Mar 2012 Craft & Design Magazine, ‘Artistic Collaboration’
Nov 2011 Furniture & Cabinetmaking, ‘Loud & Proud’ Celebration of Craftsmanship
June 2005 House and Garden, Insider – Decorator’s Notebook
July 2004 Grand Designs, ‘The Art of Oak’
Aug 2003 Homes & Antiques, ‘The Art of Marquetry – Paintings in Wood’
Jan 2002 Concept for Living, ‘United States – Reader’s Home’
Apr 2000 Yorkshire Post, ‘Art at the Cutting Edge – Christine Meyer-Eaglestone’
Oct 1995 Practical Woodworking, ‘Something Fishy’ - Christine Eaglestone, Furniture Design Awards