Fleur Andreas MSDC

Fleur has been a potter for many years but reached a point in her creative life where she felt the need to expand her horizons and explore other possibilities for her artistic endeavours. This proved the catalyst for her to embark on a foundation course at University College for the Creative Arts (now University for the Creative Arts) in Farnham Surrey, where she had the opportunity to study and work in various new mediums, including print and textiles, and inspired her to pursue an entirely new artistic direction focussing on textiles. She continued her studies at Farnham after completing the foundation course, and graduated three years later with an honours degree in textile design specialising in weave.

The limitless, subtle colours and moods of nature and light have always been a source of great inspiration for Fleur, both in her life as a ceramicist and in her later work with textiles. The tactile quality of the raw material used in ceramics has within it the potential of fusing functionality with craft. This quality is also found in textiles, which has allowed Fleur to experiment in a more fluid form and to develop her creativity in entirely new directions. Fleur favours the use of fine natural yarns, including silk, merino, cotton and bamboo, most of which she hand-dyes. She delights in producing original, individual fine quality articles, including abstract wall hangings, curtain fabric and cushions, and items that may be worn such as capes, shawls and scarves. Fleur's aim is always is to create exceptional and unique pieces of artwork through her weaving.

Education
BA (Hons) Textile Design

Awards

Craft & Design Selected Makers Award 2016 Silver Award in the Textiles & Needlecraft section

Exhibitions

May 2007 - Graduate Exhibition, University College for the Creative Arts, Farnham.

July 2007 - New Designers, Islington, London

2010 - Flora Lou Gallery, Chobham, Surrey

November 2011 - Handmade in Britain 11, The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, Scarf exhibited at the launch of the book Handmade in Britain edited by Piyush Suri

Dec.11 - March 12 - Bourneside Gallery, Gomshall, Surrey

May 2012 - London: a celebration, gallery@Oxo Gallery, London, with Handmade in Britain

July 2012 - Exhibition of Handmade Textiles, Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Chichester, with Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

January 2013 - Designer Crafts at the Mall 2013, The Mall Galleries, London, with The Society of Designer Craftsmen

April 2013 - Clandon Park House, Guildford, with West Surrey Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

Nov. – Jan 2014 - Jo Aylwin Studio and Gallery, Farnham

February 2014 - Unravel, The Maltings, Farnham with West Surrey Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

May 2014 - Taster Exhibition 2014, Lewis Elton Gallery, University of Surrey, with Surrey Artists’ Open Studios

June 2014 - Surrey Artists’ Open Studios, Peaslake Old School Room, Peaslake

November 2014 - Handmade in Britain 14, The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, with Handmade in Britain

Dec.14- Jan.15 - Surrey Artists’ Christmas Exhibition, Lewis Elton Gallery, University of Surrey, with Surrey Artists’ Open Studios

January 2015 - Designer Crafts at the Mall 2015, The Mall Galleries, London, with The Society of Designer Craftsmen

November 2015 - Handmade in Britain 15, The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, with Handmade in Britain

February 2016 - Unravel, The Maltings, Farnham with West Surrey Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

June 2016 - Surrey Artist’s Open Studios, Six Oaks Studio, Cranleigh

June 2016 - The Maker’s Art, Guildford House Gallery, Guildford with the North Surrey Group of the Society of Designer Craftsmen

August 2016 - Designer Crafts on the Mall 2016, Mall Galleries, London with the Society of Designer Craftsmen

June 2017 - Surrey Artists’ Open Studios, Onslow Artist’s Studio, Guildford

September 2017 - A Touch of Silk. Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire comprising work from the members of the south east group of the Spinners, Weavers and Dyers Guild.

September, 2017 - The Makers’ Art 2017 with the North Surrey Group of the Society of Designer Craftsmen, Cranleigh Arts Centre

July 2018 - Hand of the Maker with the Society of Designer Craftsmen, Chelsea College of Art

October 2018 - Real Craft at Charterhouse, in aid of research into skin cancer with Story FMR, Charterhouse School, Godalming

May - June 2019 - Awakening, an exhibition of artists inspired by the natural world and the arrival of spring. Leith Hill Place, National Trust near Dorking.

October 2019 - 40th Anniversary Textile Exhibition with West Surrey Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers.

Publications

Summer 2009 - Article in The Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

November 2011 - Included in the book Handmade in Britain edited by Piyush Suri published by Vivays Publishing.

2013 - Interview with www.textileartist.org

Sept/Oct 2016 - Craft & Design magazine, Silver Award article

October 2017 - Article “From conception to creation” www.textileartist.org

February 2018 - Crafts Council Directory. Included among the nominees in the Crafts Council’s “Top Maker Picks” in their Directory.