Sharon Kearley MSDC

Sharon Kearley's work is inspired by Bauhaus Theory of a diagnostic exploratory approach, responding to the physicality and sensitivity of materials combining weave, print and stitch processes. She investigates the potential of linear connections, sequence and repeat within a compositional space, applying minimal and focused use of colour, series, scale and multiples.

Sharon graduated in 1995 from The London Institute, Chelsea School of Art, with a BA(Hons) Textiles Design having specialised for two years in woven design.

Her eighteen year career has been incredibly diverse encompassing Fashion and Costume Styling and making for the advertising, theatre, film and television industries; the infamous Big Breakfast and The Bigger Breakfast Show of the mid-ninties; styling presenters Liza Tarbuck and Johnny Vaughn, Sara Cox and Dermot O'Leary. She set up her own design practice in 2002 in Northern Spain where she exhibited her woven designs, working to various commissions, she continued to work in Costume and lectured Art and Design in Art Academies.

She returned her business to the UK in 2009 and has since lectured at the London Metropolitan University and is currently lecturing at Winchester School of Art as a Visiting Lecturer for students on the MA Textiles Design Course. She has completed a number of residencies at universities, galleries and museums working predominantly with 'minority' groups using weave design as a tool for healing and self-motivation and has won funding on a number of projects, continuing to push her passion for weave in these areas.

She provides workshops and talks to all ages sharing her knowledge and passion for her subject and her book 'Woven Textiles - A Designer's Guide' was published by 'Crowood Press' in 2014.

Education

2017-2019 MA Textiles Design, UCA, Farnham

2010 PGCE, Teacher Training, Highbury College, Portsmouth

2009 PTTLS/CTTLS Teacher Training in the Life Long Sector, Andover College

1997 Ladies costume interpretation 1500 – 1800’s

Wimbledon College of Art and Design, London

1992-1995 BA Textiles Design, Chelsea School of Art, London

Professional Bodies

Society of Designer Craftsmen MSDC

The Makers' Art Collective

Arts Awards Mentor, The Arts Council

Weavers and Spinners Guild

Publications

2014 “Woven Textiles – A Designer’s Guide,” Crowood Press

Awards

2010 Test Valley Borough Council, setting up in business

2010 Test Valley Arts Foundation

Residencies

2010 Ditchling Museum, East Sussex

2009 AA2A Portsmouth University

Tutoring Experience

2012 – current Lecturer, Foundation Diploma Art and Design, Wiltshire College, Trowbridge

2012 -2018 Visiting Lecturer, MA Textiles Design, Winchester School of Art

2009 - current Weave Tutor, Private Tuition

2011 Visiting Lecturer, Weave Design Summer School, Winchester School of Art

2010 – 2012 Visiting Lecturer, BA Weave Design, London Metropolitan

2010 Fashion Lecturer, HND Fashion Design, Highbury College, Portsmouth

2009 – 2011 Visiting Lecturer, BA Weave Design, Winchester School of Art

2009 – 2010 Visiting Lecturer, National Diploma Fashion, Wiltshire College

2009 – 2010 Visiting Lecturer, Foundation Diploma Art and Design, Wiltshire College

Exhibitions

April 2021 "Spring Showcase" Maker's Art Collective, Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester

Dec 2020 "Pop Up" Collaborative show, The Maker's Art Collective & Transition, Farnham

July 2020 Summer Show, Wiltshire Creative, Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury

2019 "Connected" - The Maker's Art Collective, The Oxo Gallery, London

2019 MA Show 2019 - UCA Farnham

June - Oct 2018 Heathland Artworks, "The Untrodden Path", Farnham Heath

2018 "ReMastered", Craft Study Centre, Farnham

2015 “Woven,” solo exhibition, Studio 53, Salisbury

2014 Book launch, Salisbury Art Centre

Book launch and one-month exhibition, Rum’s Eg Gallery, Romsey

2013 Contemporary Craft Fair, Salisbury Arts Centre

2010 Ditchling Museum, permanent exhibition

The Mall Galleries, London

Contemporary Textiles Fair, London

Weald and Downland Museum, Sussex

Project Workshops, Grateley

SPACE, Portsmouth

OX Market Gallery, Chichester

Race for Fashion, Goodwood Races

2009 Galanthus Gallery, Hereford

Making Merry, City Space, Winchester

Hampshire Open Studios

New Artists In Libraries, Andover

Cassiel Art, Rye, Sussex

Lusine, Salisbury

Perspex, Styling Consultancy, Winchester

The Fairground, Weyhill, Andover

Guest Speaker

2013 West Surrey & Kennet Guild of Weavers and Spinners

2011 Hampshire Guild of Weavers and Spinners

2010 The Embroiders Guild, Andover & Salisbury

Arts and Crafts Society, Eastleigh

2009 CIBAS, Café Culture, The Lights, Andover

Havant Borough Council

Collaborative Projects

2014 Workshop Leader, Smarties, Salisbury Arts Centre

Workshop Leader, Armed Forces Day, Salisbury City Council

Workshop Leader, Love Parks, Salisbury City Council

2013 Workshop Leader, Smarties, Salisbury Arts Centre

Workshop Leader, Apple Day, Salisbury City Council

Workshop Leader, Weave, Chafyn Grove School, Salisbury

Workshop Leader, St George’s Day, Salisbury

Workshop Leader, Heroes, Hoodwink Theatre, Salisbury

2012 Workshop Facilitator, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester

2011 Workshop Facilitator, The Malmesbury Project, Leigh Park

Workshop Facilitator, The Edge Project, Milestones Museum

Workshop Leader, Leon Coleman Ltd, Cascades, Portsmouth

2010 Weave Practitioner, The Newby Project, Ditchling Museum

Workshop Leader, The Centenary Project, Ditchling Museum

Workshop Leader, Culture in the Park, Butser Hill

Workshop Leader, Textiles in the Community, Hampshire Adult and Family Learning

Workshop Leader, Round the World in 80 Days, Rushmoor Borough Council

Workshop Leader, The Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth

Workshop Leader, Pompey Stars, The Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth

Workshop Leader, Aiming High, Westend Arts Centre, Aldershot

Workshop Leader, The Making, Basingstoke

2009 Workshop Leader, Tree Dressing, Portsmouth City Council

Workshop Leader, Beyond Horizons, Aldershot

Participatory Joy classes 2009 – 2014 various institutions, art centres, schools, colleges in Textiles

Costume & Fashion Styling Industries Experience

Cinema

BILLY ELLIOT (cut from…)

1996 Costume Design Assistant U 4 Me Films, London

Wardrobe Assistant Swan Lake, The Film, AMP, London

Television

1999-2000 CHANNEL 4/PLANET 24, London - THE BIG BREAKFAST,

THE BIGGER BREAKFAST Fashion, Costume Stylist

(daily live television programme)

1998-1999 CHANNEL 4 - Fashion, Costume Stylist Television Commercials

1998 ITV Network - Fashion, Costume Stylist Television Commercials

1997 BBC 1 - Costume Maker Christmas Idents

Television Commercials - Fashion, Costume Stylist

Clients included:

Kodak, Boddingtons, Vauxhall/World Cup, Mercedes (USA), Mini Rover, Sanyo Digicam, VW Polo, Saab, Ford Escort, The Times Directory, Levis, Kiss TV, Persol Sunglasses (Milan), Blockbusters Video, Kellogg's, Daily Telegraph

Theatre

1997 Wardrobe Assistant Swan Lake, AMP, Los Angeles, USA

1998 Wardrobe Maker Agatha Chrisities' Mousetrap', London

Wardrobe Assistant Supervisor Grease/Whistle Down the WindLondon

Wardrobe Deputy Grease, London

1997-1998 Wardrobe Assistant Supervisor Cinderella, AMP, London

1995-1997 Wardrobe Assistant Swan Lake, AMP London

1995 Costume Styling Angels and Bermans, London

Miscellaneous

Languages Spanish, Fluent, lived and worked in Northern Spain for 10 years

References Available on request