Hannah Thurman

I find the inspiration for my work deeply rooted in the shape and colour of our landscapes, folk law and our oral histories, historical garments and texts, the effects of natural decay and the transition from new to old.
In my work I try to create a sense of time focusing on the impact people have on their surroundings and the remnants of the past left behind.
I try to capture the way the earth responds to new things by reclaiming them to the eventual extent of looking like they have always been there, from the effects of weather bending and shaping our landscapes to moss and plant life reclaiming stones and urban objects.
By collecting fragments of the past such as stories, second hand cutlery, stones and pieces of broken pottery, I find it gives me an insight into past lives and feeds my imagination with ideas and mystery.
I use a variety of fabrics and fibres in my work such as wool, silk, cotton and paper and explore the boundaries of surface embellishment using machine and hand embroidery techniques.

Biography…
I was born in 1982 and raised in the small market town of Ulverston in the Lake District.
After completing a foundation art course at Barrow sixth form college, where I won the Prize for Art in 2002, I then went on to study BA (Hons) Fashion design at Bradford college where I discovered my love for embroidery and surface embellishment.
In 2005 while in the final year of my degree I was granted Licentiate membership (LSDC) of The Society of Designer Craftsmen for my final collection of wearable art pieces.
I now live in Todmorden in West Yorkshire and work from my home studio where I create embroidery and fabric textile based exhibition and commissioned works.

Shows and Exhibitions..
2002 The Doc Museum, Barrow -in Furness, final foundation show.

2005 Battersey Park, London, Graduate Fashion Week.
The Yorkshire Craft Centre, Bradford, final degree show.
The Madeira Embroidery Show, Harrogate.
The Knit and Stitch Show, Harrogate.

Solo exhibitions.
2006 “Collective Memory” embroidery exhibition, The Love Apple Gallery room, Bradford.

2007 “Yurts” embroidery and print project ,part of Bradford’s
Festival of culture 2007.
“Shades of white” embroidery exhibition, The Fox and Goose
Gallery room, Hebden Bridge.

2008 “Line and Thread” embroidery and drawing exhibition,
The Arts Festival shop, Hebden Bridge. Joint exhibition
With visual Artist Michael Horne.
2010 “Tea Potty?” Rivington street SDC Gallery, London
2013 Calder Creative grand opening exhibition, featuring work from local
Artists.

Award and memberships.
2002 The Barrow-in Furness Prize for Art.
2005 Licentiate member, The Society of Designer Craftsmen, LSDC.

Publications.

2005 October/November issue, Workbox Magazine.

Various features in local newspapers such as:
Hebden Bridge Times,
Ulverston’s Evening mail,
Bradford’s Telegraph & Argus.

Commissions.
Various Large framed embroidery pieces for private collections,

2006 “Beadtle 2006“
“Collective” 2006
2007 “Tea cups” 2007
“White beam” 2007
Helter-skelter, Rock band costume embroidery 2007.

Background.
2001- 2002 Foundation Art course ,Barrow-in Furness sixth form
College.
2002- 2005 BA (Hons) Fashion design, Bradford college.

2005 -2007. Part time, Freelance for Naomi Parker set and
Costume designer, Leeds.