Art and Design (Textiles)

Course summary

Students are given the opportunity to learn and develop a range of skills in relation to felt making, silk paper making, hand and machine embroidery, various methods of print and surface decoration, fabric manipulation, pattern cutting and garment construction. This is taught initially through a six week induction period at the beginning of the 1st year, and then through personal responses to unit themes and externally set assignments provided by the exam board. Students produce a body of work for all units, following the art process from initial research and starting points, through development and experimentation towards a final response in the form of a finished piece. Alongside their development work, students research a range of relevant artists and designers to gain inspiration for their own creative ideas and themes. Students will also analyse existing designs, extracting techniques and methods of working, which can be mapped onto practical experimentations. Students' studio-based practice is contextualised with educational visits to exhibitions of contemporary art alongside references to work in the College Gallery and the library's excellent facilities. Also, during the summer term students' outstanding achievements are celebrated in an exhibition of work at the end of year Creative Show. The Textiles programme provides students with the opportunity to express themselves imaginatively and creatively using a range of media. It is a demanding course but very enjoyable and rewarding.