Sarah Tyssen
woven on a dobby loom.
Photographer: Sarah Tyssen
“I am very inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement, but ideas for my work come from the world around me. I see something that gives me an idea for a design - and then put a series of warps on the loom and “play” with constructions and colour - and so the design evolves as I work.
I have a real passion for colour. I love the way colours change when you put one next to, or across another. In the early days I used solely British worsted & lambswool yarns but, due to customer demand for softer wool, my Merino lambswool comes from Australia, as the warmer climate produces beautifully soft fleeces. My yarns are all dyed in the UK.”
Sarah Tyssen
Education
| 1982 to 1985 | West Surrey College of Art and Design. BA. Hons Textile Design. |
| 1981 to 1982 | Sheffield City Polytechnic. |
Experience
| 1988 | Present: Self Employed - Sarah Tyssen Textile Designs. Designing and producing collections of scarves, blankets and throws. |
| 1992-1998 | Studio situated in a commission weaving textile mill in Surrey. Learning all aspects of small batch production, from winding yarn and making warps to weaving on power Dobby and Jacquard looms. Designing and weaving costume fabrics for Film, Theatre and Television for a London agent. |
| 1993 | Teaching experience, University College for the Creative Arts, Farnham |
| 1989 – 1991 | Alan de Monceau. Dyeing woollen yarns for antique carpet restoration. |
| 1985 – 1988 | Designer - Morgan and Oates. Designing contemporary interior textiles for High Street retailers. Clients included: Next, Ralph Lauren, Marks and Spencer and Laura Ashley. |
Shows
| 2008 to 2015 | Made, Brighton |
| 2012 to 2016 | Made London |
| 1994 to 1997, 2016 | Top Drawer, London |
| 2010 to 2014 | Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Manchester |
| 2011, 2013, 2015 | Lustre, Nottingham |
| 2003 to 2016 | Contemporary Craft Fair, Hereford |
| 2006, 2010, 2012 to 2016 | Festival of Craft, Farnham |
| 2014 to 2016 | Craft in Focus – Wisley RHS Gardens |
| 2015, 2016 | Handmade in Kew, Kew Gardens |
| 2007 to 2009, 2011 | Origin, London |
| 1995 to 1999 | Chelsea Craft Fair |
| 1995 to 1999, 2012, 2013 | Country Living Fair |
| 1996 | San Francisco Gift Fair |
Outlets including
Victoria & Albert Museum shop
Leeds City Art Gallery, Yorkshire
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Town House, Spitalfields, London
Tinsmiths, Ledbury
Awards
| 1992 | Best New Product, British Craft Trade Fair, Harrogate |
| 2009 | Selvedge Award for Excellence in Textiles – at Origin 2009 |
| 2014 | Craft & Design Magazine award – Made London 2014 |