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Mary Crabb MSDC

Mixed Media

About Mary
Mary has always been a maker - from a small child, to a need as an adult to make something every day. Her initial career was in primary teaching, specialising in maths, art and music, this was followed by museum education. Her creative practice brings all these elements together; maths, education and making through research, tutoring maths, teaching skills and mentoring creativity, to making with a focus on basketry and textiles. Mary is intrigued by the processes of making. She explores, investigates, engineers and problem solves.
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Making comes from Mary’s curiosity, questions with a desire to understand and learn. Often led by a process, a conversation begins between Mary and a material or a technique. With past experience of constructed textile techniques, basketry began with traditional willow skills. These evolved into an experimental working style with a mix of traditional and contemporary materials using adapted basketry and textile techniques. Mary has an interdisciplinary approach, sometimes scientific in its analysis through drawings and annotated diagrams.

Twining is a favourite technique, a process of off-loom weaving worked in the hands. It can be worked with fine flexible materials and is a popular technique for teaching, something Mary is passionate about. Since 2009, she has been a Short Course Tutor for West Dean College and more recently, an online tutor for Ardington School of Crafts. She likes to promote making that is accessible to all, from beginners to more experienced makers. Many crafts need space, money, specialist equipment, Mary really enjoys showing that making can be as simple as a ball of string, a pair of scissors, time and patience.

Opportunities arising from a co-investigator role in the research project Forces in Translation (FiT), have heightened Mary’s desire to explore a wider range of basketry techniques including plaiting and triaxial weaving - corners, curvature and surfaces, making connections with geometry, topology and knots. FiT has focussed Mary’s interest on maths that is intrinsic to making. This is something she will be exploring further. This project and the earlier Basketry Then and Now WW1 project have provided opportunities for writing and publication, something Mary has enjoyed.

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Selected Education

  • 2011-13: Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, West Dean College
  • 1993: B Ed (Honours): Middle Age Range, Maths, West Sussex Institute of Higher Education, an accredited college of the University of Southampton

Selected Experience

  • 2025- Online Tutor: Ardington School of Crafts
  • 2025- 1:1 Mentor/ Trainer
  • 2023-25: Research Assistant - with lead of Forces in Translation
  • 2020-22: Co-investigator: Forces in Translation (FiT) project
  • 2016-17: Community Researcher: Basketry Then and Now project
  • 2015- STEM Ambassador: Volunteer
  • 2009- Tutor: West Dean College, Sussex and London
  • 1993- Qualified Teacher

Awards

  • 2024: Bronze medal – Class A awarded by The Society of Model & Experimental Engineers
  • 2016: craft&design Selected Silver Award 2016: Specialist Media
  • 2015: Highly Commended – Class A awarded by The Society of Model & Experimental Engineers
  • 2014: Second Prize – Three Dimensional Items, Geoffrey Squire Memorial Competition ‘Silvery Threads’
  • 2013: craft&design Selected Finalist 2013: Specialist Media
  • 2010: Finalist of Best Basket of the Year Competition 2010 organised by The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
  • 2009: Yeoman Member of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
  • 2008: Third prize for Artistic and Design Basketry. The IV International Traditional and Design Basketry Competition, Pinolere 2008
  • 2008: Bronze medal – Class B awarded by The Society of Model & Experimental Engineers

Selected Exhibitions

  • 2024: Contemporary Art at Sullington, West Sussex.
  • 2023: Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition. Copper pod exhibited on Society of Model & Experimental Engineers stand.
  • 2022: Winter Exhibition. New Ashgate Gallery.
  • 2021: Forces in Translation installation. Ruthin Craft Centre.
  • Basketry – Rhythm, Renewal & Reinvention. Ruthin Craft Centre.
  • warp, weft, stitch, thread. Gallery 57, Arundel, West Sussex.
  • 2020: elements: wood metal. Gallery 57, Arundel, West Sussex.
  • 2019: Basketry: function and ornament. Ruthin Craft Centre.
  • 2018: Significant Figures: remembrance through making - solo exhibition at The Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester.
  • MADE: folding, bending, weaving, twisting. Qube Gallery, Oswestry.
  • 2016: Summer Show 2016: Weave, The Makers Guild in Wales, Craft in the Bay
  • 2015: Inspire: Winter Selling Exhibition, Walford Mill Crafts, Wimbourne, Dorset
  • Back to the Beach, Worthing Museum & Art Gallery
  • Beastly Magic, SITselect
  • Basketry Identity, Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton-on-Thames
  • Tutor’s Exhibition, West Dean College
  • 2014: The Costume and Textile Association for Norfolk Museums Geoffrey Squire Memorial Exhibition and Competition ‘Silvery Threads’, Norwich Cathedral
  • 2013: Worshipful Company of Basketmakers Exhibition, Guildhall Library, London
  • 2011: Basketry Exhibition, Stella Harding, Mary Crabb and Maggie Smith, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham
  • Basketry Arts Useful & Beautiful, The Apricot Gallery, The Rag Factory, London
  • 2010-11: Precious Reclaiming Art and Craft, Hove Museum & Art Gallery, Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, Banbury Museum, Oriel Wrecsam, Winchester Discovery Centre, Harley Gallery; Worksop
  • 2010: West Dean College, New Tutors Exhibition
  • 2009: Brighton Fringe Festival and Steyning Festival, Cow Shed Studios
  • 2008: World Basketry, Pinolere Cultural Association
  • 2007: Grace Barrand Design Centre

Research Projects

  • 2020-22: Forces in Translation - basketry, maths and anthropology
  • 2016-17: Basketry Then and Now - basketry in WW1
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