Graduate selected for the Crafts Council Hothouse Programme

First class BA(Hons) Surface Pattern design graduate of 2011 and studio artist at Unit Twelve Gallery, Stafford, Julia Jowett has been selected for the Crafts Council Hothouse programme 2014 for selected makers.

Hothouse selects the brightest new craft talent from across the UK and provides them with a tailor-made six-month programme of creative and business support.

In a marketplace where the bespoke and handmade is being recognised and celebrated by global brands the skill and knowledge of the individual maker becomes ever more powerful.

The Hothouse scheme is for makers within two years of setting up their business who already display a high level of technical craftsmanship and originality and need support for the next phase of their business and creative development.

Thirty eight makers from across the UK have been selected to embark on the Hothouse scheme that will begin in 2014 and be delivered via four regional cohorts (South West, North, East and London) and Julia is one of ten makers representing the east and west Midlands region.

Her illustrative practice explores the importance of storytelling and imagination. She draws with wire, pencil and stitch; intricately working dense areas of traditional embroidery and needlepoint stitches into metal gauzes and figuratively manipulated wire lines. Julia combines hand-embroidered wire-work with observational drawing and screen printing techniques onto fabric and paper grounds to create contemporary art pieces. Drawing on folk tales, childhood stories and surreal imaginings, her harness instinctive feelings and traditional craft processes to create considered folkloric narratives that intrigue.

Congratulations, Julia!