Louise Mabbs - textile artist/teacher/author

louise.mabbs.textiles@btinternet.com       www.louisemabbs.co.uk

 

BORN & BRED

24 /02/ 1963            Solihull, Birmingham, England (nee Briggs)

1964 - 1965             Dollgellau, Wales

1965 - 1981             Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England

1982 - 1986             Winchester, Hampshire, England

1986 - 1991             Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England

1991 - 1995             Longsight, Manchester, England

1995 - 1997             Balham, London, England

1997 - now             Battersea, London, England

 

TRAINING

2001 - 2003             City & Guild’s 7900 Part 2 Embroidery, East Berkshire College, Windsor

2002                        Setting Up Out Of School Care course, Wandsworth Council EDYCP

1998 - 2001             City & Guild’s 7900 Part 1 Embroidery, East Berkshire College, Windsor

1992 - 1993             City & Guild’s 7307 Further & Adult Education Teachers Certificate, North Trafford College, Manchester

1991 - 1995             Living with Leadership & theology courses Northern College, Manchester

1982 - 1985             B.A. Hons. Constructed Textiles. Winchester School Of Art, Winchester

1981 - 1982             Art Foundation Diploma, Derby Lonsdale College of Higher Education, Derby

1974 - 1981             GSE 8 O levels & 4 A levels Anthony Gell School, Wirksworth, Derbyshire

 

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT

Since 1987              Self employed textile artist / teacher

1988                        Studio practice Felicity Rudd, hand knitter, Covent Garden & Hampshire

1985 - 1987             Temping in Hampshire & Derbyshire including 11 months permanent contract Wessex Regional Health Authority, Winchester. 

1977 - 1981             Vacation work Janet Reger Creations Ltd, luxury lingerie, Wirksworth, Derbyshire

 

BUSINESS MOVES

1995                        London, where I continue commissioned work, teaching, studying & motherhood

1991                        Manchester Married & moved to study.  Developed teaching & commissions

1990                        Wirksworth Set up “A Primary Presence” shop, plus exhibiting other artists work

1987                        Wirksworth Established “A Primary Presence” home studio, in Derbyshire: quilts, wall hangings, soft furnishings, gifts etc

 

ARTIST IN RESIDENCIES / SCHOOL  & COMMUNITY PROJECTS

School Projects

2005                        Junior London League & Park Walk Infants/Junior School, Chelsea Life                                                Journey’s – ‘Sea of Face’s - Nursery to Year 6 (3 -11) self-portraits.  4 quilt panels

2003                        Bubble Theatre Company The Patchwork Project – ‘Life in Southwark’ 3 after school clubs. Year 2 (6 - 7), Year 5 (9 - 11), & Years 7 -10 (11 - 16 special needs). Felt appliqué wallhangings.  Two schools then used them as the backdrop to drama presentations at the Blue Elephant Theatre, Camberwell.

2002                        Belleville School Battersea, Wandsworth, designing, co-ordinating & quilting Belleville Rainbow Bees for Christmas raffle & Belleville Floral Bees quilt to hang in school.  The quilt tops were tacked & sewn by parents, students & teachers

2001                        West Hill School Wandsworth, ‘Animals’ wallhangings Year 5 & 6 (9 -12’)

1990                        Belper Junior School Derbyshire.  ‘Squares, Triangles & Maths’

1989                        Burghley Community College Loughborough. ‘Mathematical Magic’

1988                        Derby Museum & Art Gallery Derby. ‘Family Day’

 

Community Projects         

2002                        St. Andrews URC ‘A Wish & A Prayer’ community wishes for the new church      

 

Friendship Quilts 

Designed, co-ordinated & put together 2 family, 1 church,  & several ‘Album quilts’ with some of the blocks made by relatives & friends of recipients                                                                                                                             

TEACHING

Regular classes

Since 1999              Private classes at home & Around The Commons Textile Group, London

Since 2003              Peabody classes for elderly.  Wandsworth

Since 1999              Itinerant classes for Quilter’s & Embroiderer’s Guilds / Groups

1996                        Around The Commons Textile Group established, London

1993 - 1995             3 Adult Education classes, Manchester

1987 - 1991             Works Worth Quilting Group Wirksworth, Derbyshire

 

One off events

2004                        Shipley Art Gallery Gateshead.  Adult class & family drop in day

2004                        The Festival of Quilts 19 - 22/08 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham

2003                       Quilt 2003 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham

2001                        Cross Stitcher & Needlecraft Show Olympia. Lecture for the Quilter’s Guild

1999                       Knitting & Stitching Show Alexander Palace, London                                                                       National Quilt Championships Olympia, London                                                                                     National Needlecraft Show Lecture Olympia, London.

                                QG Region 2 Area day Beckenham Methodist Church, Kent                              

1998                        The Community College Hackney, London

                                Great British Quilt Festival Alexander Palace

                                Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival Northamptonshire

                                National Patchwork Association Ascot Race course

                                Quilter’s Guild C&G teachers, Fibonacci & Golden Section, London

1995                        National Patchwork Association Ascot Race course

1994                        Hilton Hotel Special Interest Weekends Hilton National, Newport, Wales

1992                        Quilter’s Guild AGM Liverpool                                                                                                             Quilt Expo Europa III The Hague, Holland Alluding To Illusion

                                Bergen Quilte Lag Bergen, Norway

1991                        Great British Quilt Festival Harrogate

1990                        Quilt Expo Europa II Odense Denmark Mathematical Magic

1985                        Southwark College London Covering for permanent tutor

 

EXHIBITIONS WHERE QUILTS HAVE APPEARED

2004                        Shipley Art Gallery Gateshead. 12/06 - 05/09

                                New International Quilts, invited artists 2004                       

                                St. Cuthbert’s Centre, Lindisfarne, Northumberland.  26/07 - 06/08                

                                Celtic spirals - whirls, swirls or knot?   Invited artist

                                St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church Battersea, London 21 - 23/10

Quilts & paintings - a new dimension?  With George Printezis 2D/3D painter & ATCTG

2003                        St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church Battersea, London 23 - 25/10

Louise Mabbs & friends. Around The Commons Textile Group with Gila Bunth, Germany

                                St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church Battersea, London 11/10

                                If you can’t get to Ghana...Black History Month activities   

2002                        Royal College of Pathologists Carlton House Terrace, LondonQuilts At The College

St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church Battersea, London Just Looking reopening festival with Around The Commons Textile Group exhibition & workshops

2001                        Minerva Centre LLanidloes, Powys, Wales.  The Quilt Association

2000                        Alexander Palace London Quilt 2000 selected exhibition (Infinity)

Devon Guild Of Craftsman Bovey Tracey, Devon Under the Covers selected works

                                Hexagon Quilters - teachers showcase

Hever Castle, Edenbridge, Kent. Invited groups to Quilts at Hever Region 2 exhibition

St. Nicholas Church St. Croix Aux Mines, Val D’Argent, France. 6th Patchwork Carrefour

1999                        Olympia, London National Quilt Championships  Patchwork Association & demonstrations

Lords Cricket Ground, London Under the Covers , Quilter’s Guild Of The British Isles

1998                        Austria Quilt Expo Europa IV   British selection

1997                        Museum Of Garden History, Lambeth, London Embroiderer’s Guild  

                                Wimbledon Library, London Wimbledon International Quilter’s exhibition,

1996                        St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church Battersea, London Around The Commons Textile Group 1st show                              

National Patchwork Association Spring Fair Ardingly, Sussex Teachers Showcase 

1995                        Wimbledon Library, London Wimbledon International Quilter’s exhibition,

Annual                     Wirksworth Arts Festival Town Trail, Baptist Church, Wirksworth, Derbyshire

1994                        St. Brides Church, Old Trafford.  Quilts & banners  solo show & student’s work

                                Knitting & Stitching Show GMEX, Manchester.  Embroiderer’s Guild stall

1993                        Great British Quilt Festival, Harrogate. Teachers Showcase

1992                        Forge Mill Needle Museum Redditch, Worcestershire. Quilts Past & Present 

Merchant Adventurers Hall, York Festival.  A Thread Of Inspiration mixed textiles Holland, Nederlands Congresbouw, The Hague Quilt Expo Europa III  -Teachers Showcase

1991                        Bath Assembly Rooms & touring Quilter’s Guild - Skopos Challenge Travelling Exhibition    

Wirksworth Library, Derbyshire.  Works Worth Quilting-Sampling The Quilt -Is this Farewell?

1990                        Wirksworth Library, Derbyshire. Works Worth Quilting - Hot Colour - Numerous Variations,

Wirksworth Memorial Hall, Derbyshire. Wirksworth Town Festival Invited Artist, Flying Colours - Taking Liberties                  

                                Syon House, Hertfordshire Quilts UK -Gardeners Paradise,

Denmark - H C Andersen Centre, Odense, Quilt Expo Europa II - Teachers Showcase, 1989                    

Wirksworth Library, Derbyshire. Works Worth Quilting - Summer Sensations,

1988                        Greens Mill Science Centre, Nottingham Wind 

                                Canal Museum, Nottingham Waterways

                                Crownyard Kitchen, Wirksworth, Derbyshire Solo Show

                                Wirksworth Town Hall Library, Derbyshire Works Worth Quilting - first exhibition   

1987                        University of London Common Threads Maths in art for children

1986                        Winchester Guildhall, Hampshire Wessex Quiltmakers - Summer Show

                                Crownyard Kitchen, Wirksworth, Derbyshire Solo Show

                                Greens Mill Science Centre, Nottingham Mathematical Magic

1985                        The Smith’s Gallery (Five Dials) Covent Garden WSA Degree Show

                                Winchester School of Art WSA Degree Show

 

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Three quilts belong to a collector in Portsmouth.  Other work is in Derbyshire, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Northumberland & Winchester

 

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

1997                        The Quilter’s Guild 90’s collection - In The Beginning, God

 

 

 

GRANTS

2004                        Wandsworth Borough Council funding towards Quilts & paintings - a new dimension with painter George Printezis & Around The Commons Textile Group

2002                        Wandsworth Borough Council equipment grant for setting up children’s activities (bought 3 sewing machines & specialist sewing feet)

1994                        North West Arts Board publicity grant for slides, postcards & portfolio

 

COMMISSIONS

Many smaller & commercial commissions not listed.

2004 - 2005             David Mabb, painter-lecturer Goldsmiths College, London. Quilting of 2 ‘After Gees Bend’ quilts   

2002                        Private commissioner, London. Debbie’s Shells 3 dimensional embroidered panel

                                Private commissioner, Surrey. Daisies for Daisy small quilt 

Female minister, London. She Preside  & Pentecost Flames ecclesiatical stoles

2001                        Private commissioner, Jersey. Signs & Symbols wall quilt of Christian imagery,

1997                        Tutors house, Northern College, Manchester.  Deep Peace wallhanging,

1996                        Quilter’s Guild 90’s collection, Halifax. In The Beginning, God wallhanging,

                                New Chaplain, Northern College, Manchester Come & See wallhanging

                                Minister, Manchester.  Marbellous wallhanging

1995                        Anonymous commissioner for St. Brides Church, Old Trafford, Manchester. The Light Shines In The Darkness triptych wallhanging 

1994                        Old Chaplain, Northern College, Manchester.  Hands That Flung Stars Into Space wallhanging

1990                        Private commissioner Redditch, Worcestershire. Taking The Liberty With Rainbows II, wallhanging

Trevor Scott Associates Design Studio, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Greyed Out 6 panel quilted blinds

                                Private commissioner, Blackheath, London Homage To Morris Italian corded quilt

1989 - 1991             Private collector, Portsmouth, Hampshire Taking The Liberty With Rainbows & Taking The Liberty With Florals quilts Amazing Skies coverlet

1987                        British Rail designs for Games Table Tops  

1985                        Wessex Regional Health Authority Union NALGO Banner 

 

PUBLICATIONS

All known articles about my work or written by me

Textile Magazines

Bead Society of Great Britain

2000        Newsletter 53                                         Book review of John Gillow’s World Textiles

Cross Stitcher - Future Publications

1999        March                      pg 44                       Advertising my talk at National Needlecraft show

Needlecraft - Future Publications

1992   January                                                        Article publicising Quilt Expo Europa

Patchwork & Quilting -Traplet          

2002                                                                        Teachers tips

2001        May                         p30                          Blessed Trinity featured in Lawrence Dawe article

                                                p54                          The Value of Teachers

1996        April / May Issue     p6                            Cards of work featured

1987        Summer   Issue 7    pgs 8-9                    ‘Mathematical Magic’ exhibition review

Popular Patchwork

2004        December                pgs 24/5                  Rich Pickings review of ‘New International Quilts’ at                                                                              Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead Toblercone rings

Quilter’s Guild Newsletter / The Quilter - The Quilter’s Guild Of The British Isles

2005        Spring      No 102     insert p24-5             The Young Quilter 77 pg 2 Fibonacci challenge

1998        Winter      No 77       p43                          In ‘Common Threads’ (Mary Harris) book review

1995        Spring      Issue 62  front cover              Hands that Flung Stars Into Space

1992        Autumn    Issue 52 pg 31                       mention in ‘A Thread of Inspiration ‘ review

1990        Summer   Issue 43  back cover              Taking The Liberty With Rainbows

1989        Summer   Issue 39  pg 5                         “Job vacancies” re ‘The Quilter‘ magazine distribution

1988        Summer  Issue 35 pg 23                       Origami Winds re ‘Wind’ exhibition       

1987        Summer   Issue 31 pg19                        Black & White re being Derbyshire Quilter’s Guild rep

Quilting International (USA)

1993        March      FC  & pgs 4 & 57 -8                 Taking The Liberty With Rainbows

1993        January                   pg 17                       Red Hot In Nepal

The Independent Patchworker - Patchwork Association

1995        Winter      Issue 33                                  ‘A therapeutic diversion’ & rainbow quilts

The World Of / Embroidery - Embroiderer’s Guild

1996        July          Vol 47, No 3 pgs 166-7           ‘Mathematical Magic - Quilting by formula’

 

Interior design magazines

Decor  - Aspects Publishing Ltd, London

1998                        Vol 2, Issue1  pg 6 In The Beginning God

 

Faith based magazines

Art & Christianity  - Art & Christianity enquiry

2004        October   No 40       pg 19                       Quilts & Paintings - a new dimension preview

Church Building

1996        November/ Issue 42 pgs 36/7                                 Louise Mabbs, Quilt Artist, New work in an old tradition December                                       The Light Shines In The Darkness, Taking The Liberty                                                              With Rainbows & Hands that Flung Stars Into Space

2004        January/  Issue 85 pgs 52/3                  Quilts & banners (colour & my seven year stitch)

                February                                                 Come & see/ Deep Peace / In the Beginning, God                                                                                                / Kente Piano Back / Kente Box / Blessed Trinity

Reform  - the magazine of the United Reformed Church

2004        December                Cover,                     The light shines in the darkness

                                                pgs 24-5                  In the darkness, the light shines, 5 way quilt &                                                                                     Toblercone Rings – 3D circular quilt

The Baptist Times

2004        December 2nd         pg 13                       ‘Evangelist with an art for subtlety’ interview

                                                                                Toblercone Rings

Woman Alive - Christian Women’s magazine

1995        July                                                          pgs 40-41                ‘Optical Illusions’ illustrated article

 

Local Magazines & Newspapers 

London                  Wandsworth Borough Guardian, Wandsworth Borough News, Brightside. Local Embroiderer & Quilter’s guild magazines

Manchester           Manchester Evening News

Derbyshire            Matlock Mercury, Derbyshire Times

 

Books

2007                        Fun with Fibonacci (working title) Publisher TBC Currently working on this with John Sharp, mathematician, & on other mathematical number systems

2006                        The Quilter’s Guide to Twists & Tucks. with co-author Wendy Lowes Anova

2005                        The Quilters Resource Book.  Maggie McCormick Gordon  Collins & Brown

                                pgs 140/1 & 388/9                                   Origami Winds, Blessed Trinity

2004                        Michael Wilcox School Of Colour Book in progress

                                The Quilter’s Handbook Rosemary Wilkinson, New Holland, London

1999                        pg 167, in Quilt Gallery                            Come & See

                                Arts In Mission Resource Directory British & Foreign Bible Society

1998                        Inside front cover                                    Deep Peace

                                pg 157,  back cover & leaflets                                Taking The Liberty with Rainbows

1994                        Encyclopedia of Quilting & Patchwork Techniques Katherine Guerrier                                      Quarto/Headline     

                                pgs 140,142,144,150,155 T                    TLWR, African Queen Violet, Origami Winds

1994                        Patchwork Pocket Palette Anne Walker, Simon & Schuster, Australia/Quarto

                                p36                                                          Origami Winds                                                      

CURRENT GUILDS & SOCIETIES

2004                        Writer’s Guild of Great Britain candidate member

2003                        British Origami Society

2001 - 2004             Young Quilter’s Rep, QGOTBI London including, running children’s events,

                                contact through letters & articles for regional magazine

1995                        Computer Textile Design Group For people using computers for textile design

                                Arts Centre Group Supports professional Christian artists

                                Arts In Mission Supports all Christians interested in the arts

1994                        Embroiderer’s Guild

1987 - 1991             Derbyshire Rep   QG including initiating & running Works Worth Quilting, a yearly                             exhibition & organising distribution of a quilting magazine

1985                        Quilter’s Guild (Of The British Isles)

 

INTERESTS  & EXPERTISE

Design                   Recently studying Ghanaian fabrics especially Kente cloth &

                                Mathematical ideas, especially Fibonacci & other number sequences

 

Quilts                     Colour, pattern, optical illusions, sculptural effects, tessellations, and mathematical                            colouring system. Also working with mathematician John Sharp & others

 

Embroidery           I enjoy hand & machine work equally

 

Textiles                                 Soft furnishings, upholstery, knitting, weaving

 

Paper                     Collage, recycled papermaking, papier-mache, origami

 

Leisure                                  Reading, music (have played clarinet & violin) entertaining & meeting people 

 

Travel                     I have visited Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland,                                  Italy, Denmark & Norway.  Would like to visit Ghana, Guatemala, Spain & Turkey

 

Church                   I lead the Junior Church.  I am a Fair Trader  & run a Traidcraft stall.  Chair of                                      management committee, which manages the building & events & leases

 

Family                    2 sons born 1995 & 1997 & 1 daughter in 1999 (nearly a millennium babe!)

 

FUTURE AIMS

Design                   Developing more work on spirals, mathematical ideas & ethnic textiles

 

Commissions      More major commissions & wider recognition of my work, especially in public                                     spaces & national slide indexes

 

Exhibitions            To have an exhibition in a major art gallery

 

Teaching                               To have more opportunities to teach abroad

 

Writing                   To write more books on my Mathematical ideas & art

 

Research               Mathematical sequences, plus I am planning to visit Ghana on a textile tour

 

CRB

04/11/03  I was vetted under CRB system Enhanced disclosure 001062534366

26/06/01  National identification Service Authority

 

REFERENCES

Please contact me for referees contact details

Vivien Finch, Editor (retired 2006), “The Quilter” (Quilter’s Guild Of The British Isles)

Pamela Pavitt, Embroiderer & weaver (ATD London University)

John Sharp, mathematician, lecturer (formerly City Lit & Missenden Abbey)

Jennifer Clarke, organiser Junior London League project with Park Walk School re Artist in Residencies

                                                                                                                                Updated 30/06/06