FIONA R HUTCHISON

Tapestry Artist

Water covers seven tenths of the earth's surface. The world and man could not exist without it. To many the worlds oceans give pleasure and show us great beauty, to others it is a powerful and destructive force not to be underestimated. For islanders, fishermen, and seafarers it is their life and often their livelihood. In order to create my images I draw on a combination of personal experience and study. My own relationship with the sea has been purely for pleasure, it has taken me from the Mediterranean across the Bay of Biscay, around the coast of Scotland and Ireland. These voyages have shown me that the sea has many moods and is ever changing. As I have only experienced one small part of the worlds seas I rely on writings of others to inform and inspire a wider view of life and around the sea. My study is wide and can cover a variety of sea subjects, from the study of the movement of water to the movement of fish and plankton in the water. I have studied traditional fishing techniques, read of the voyages of St Brendan, and the history of the Whaling industry at Peterhead. Poetry plays an important role in my image making. The poem "Dry Salvage" by T. S. Elliot was the first piece of poetry that created a sea image for me. It is often just a line or a phrase from the writing that will create an image in my minds eye or spark a memory from my own sea experience. I search out literature, travel writing, poetry, and music that has a sea theme, and together with personal experience it forms the starting point for my creative work. The work of Scottish poet George Mackay Brown has greatly influenced my recent works. His poem Sea Door started me to looking at how I approach the sea, how I start My Sea Journey. It is more often from a port, harbour or marina, and it was these entrances that I have begun to study. As I have studied them they have taken on a greeter meaning. The Harbour is not just the starting point for a journey across the sea (or perhaps the safe home coming) but the starting point for many of journeys in my life.

Home: 
48 Rosslyn Cres,
Edinburgh, Eh6 5A, 
Tel: 0131 555 2337

Studio:
WASPS Patriothall,
Studio 304,
1D Patriothall, off Hamilton Place,
Edinburgh, EH3 5AY

Email: fiona.hutchison@blueyounder.co.uk

Born in Edinburgh in 1958 and lives and works in Leith, Edinburgh.

1980 - 84
Studied at Edinburgh College of Art. BA Hons 1st Class, Tapestry.

1984 - 85
Post Graduate year, Edinburgh College of Art. Post Graduate Diploma with Distinction.

1986 -
Started part-time lecturing in Adult & Further Education.

1988 -
Part-time lecturer in Learning Support.

1991
Tapestry Commission for British Health Care Arts.

1992
Participated in 1st International Symposium of Textile Art, Vilnius, Lithuania.

1993 - 94
Tapestry Tutor, Lancaster University Summer School. Aldingham & Dendron Community Tapestry Project, Primary & Community Tapestry - Visiting Arts.

1994
Walney Secondary School Project, European Tapestry. Travel to the 2nd International Symposium of Textile Art, Vilnius, Lithuania. Organiser of Scottish & Lithuanian Mini Textile Exhibition, and Artists Exchange.

1995
Tapestry Commission for Grampian Hospital Arts Project.

Poetry and the Visual Arts.
Exhibition and Talk "Images and Words". Participated in the White Nights Symposium, St Petersburg, Russia

1996
Tapestry Commission for Health Care Arts.

1997
Invitation to visit and exhibit in Kedainiai, Lithuania.

Professional Organisations

Selected for Index of Makers, Crafts Council, London Society of Scottish Artists Publications

1995
FibreArts Design Book 5 - A Batchelder & N Orban Crafts Magazine - May/June Issue - "The Waves"

1993
Health Care Arts - "Art in Hospitals"

Awards

1994
Arts Council Grant - Travel to Textiles Symposium, Lithuania.

1995 Arts Council Grant - White Nights Symposium, St. Petersburg, Russia.

1996
Theo Moorman Charitable Trust, award for personnel development.

1997
Arts Council Grant - To exhibit in Kedainiai, Lithuania.

1998
The Hope Scott Trust - For promotion of Solo Show.

Exhibitions & Group Shows

1984 - 91
Society of Scottish Artists

1984
Graduates of Edinburgh College of Art. Die Akademic der Bildenden Kunst, Munich. L'ecole des Arts Decoraties, Strasbourg.

1985
Straight off the Loom, Edinburgh International Festival.

1986
30 x 30 x 30 Open Textile Exhibition, Morley Gallery, London & STOV Gallery, Amsterdam.

1988 - 89
Loose Ends, Close Ties & Other Structures. Scottish Tapestry Now, Talbot Rice Gallery,Edinburgh.Touring to Montreal, New York, Dublin.

1990 - 91
Jo Barker & Friends - Six Tapestry Weavers, Aberdeen Art Galleries.
Interwoven - Six Tapestry Weavers, Abbot Hall, Kendal, Cumbria.
Hanover Fine Art - Four Artists, Edinburgh.

1992
Linas 92 International Exhibition of Mini Textiles, Gallery ARKA, Vilnius, Lithuania.

1993
Interwoven II. Smiths Galleries, Covent Garden, London.
Participated in SAAC 4th Annual Exhibition. Gallery 41, Edinburgh.Tapestry and paintings.

1994
Linas 94 - 2nd International Mini Textile Exhibition, Gallery ARKA, Vilnius, Lithuania. Scottish & Lithuanian Mini Textiles, Edinburgh College of Art. Miniatures - 25 Tapestry Artists, Helga Pottery, West Yorkshire.

1995
Poetry & The Visual Arts, Netherbow Art Centre, Edinburgh.
White Nights Symposium Exhibition, St.Petersburg, Russia. "Out of this World" - Influences of the natural world on Crafts & Design

1880 - 1995 -
Crafts Council, London. Scottish Tapestry Weavers, Helga Pottery, West Yorkshire.
Raw Materials, Scottish Textiles - Touring Exhibition. British Tapestry, Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire.

1996
"The Woven Image" - Contemporary British Tapestry, The Barbican, London - Touring UK exhibition.
"Sea Door" - Corbridge Gallery, Northumberland.
SSA - Brave Art - Glasgow Mayfest
"Commissions 96" - Grampian Hospital Art Trust, Aberdeen.
"In the steps of Phoebe Traquair" - Scottish Women Artists, Edinburgh Festival Exhibition.
"Flax 96 - Same but Different" - International Textile Exhibition, Vilnius, Lithuania.

1997
Open House, The Woven Image, Brighton Sea Journey, Town Hall Art Gallery, Kedainiai, Lithuania.

1998
British Tapestry, Harlye Gallery, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire.

Commissions

"Sea Spirits" A & F Stevens, Architects, Edinburgh.
"Boroughloch" Mr T Henny OBE, Architects, Edinburgh.
"The Great Outdoors" Presentation to TSB, Glasgow.
"Transis Ample Tai" British Health Care Arts, Perth Royal Infirmary.
"Great Waters" Grampian Hospital Arts project, Peterhead Community Hospital, Peterhead.
"Oor Location Health Care Arts, Monklands & Bellshill Hospital

Work in Public & Private Collections

Fastnet 79 Edinburgh District Council, City Arts Centre, Edinburgh.
Fishing Nets Private Collection, Scotland.
The Sea Has Many Voices Private Collection, USA.
Red Water Masons, London.
Miniature Works The Museum of Applied Arts, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Miniatuer Works The Bonhom Hotell, Edinburgh

Teaching and Work Experience

Present - Part-time Lecturer/Tutor in Adult Education.
Part-time Lecturer in Learning Support.

1993/94
Lecturer/Tapestry Tutor Lancaster University Summer School. Artist in Schools - Aldingham & Dendron, Primary School Project. Walney School European Tapestry, Barrow-in-Furnace.

1992
Adult Education Tutor, Drummond Community High School

1988
Studio Weaver for Ivory Tapestry Co.

1986
Started Lecturing in Adult & Further Education, Art Dept., Telford College, Edinburgh.

1985
Set up the Buckhaven Tapestry Workshops - Training workshops for Manpower Services, Fife. Lectures

1996
The Edinburgh Sessions - Tapestry Seminar - speaker on Artist working to Commission.

1994
Images & Words - Lecture - Poetry & the Visual Arts.

1992
Art in Hospitals - Lecture - artist working to commission, Healthcare Arts.