CURRICULUMN VITAE
Alex is an award-winning bespoke Hand Embroidery practitioner for fashion, costume and textile art. Originally from the Lake District, Alex made the move to London when she started her training at the Royal School of Needlework. She specializes in the historic and prestigious Goldwork technique to showcase the fine art of embroidery whilst also ensuring the timeless craft is not lost. She has a passion for creating pattern through colour and texture by the updating and reinventing of traditional embroidery skills with the exploration of unconventional materials.
Relevant Experience
2022-Current
Cathryn Avison
- Goldwork & Hand Embroidery for Upcoming Films & TV Series.
2020-2021
Ralph and Russo
- Freelance Hand Embroiderer.
2018-2019
Ralph and Russo
- Full-Time Hand Embroiderer Working in the Haute Couture Embroidery Finishing Team.
- Embroidery for their Haute Couture AW19/20, SS19 & AW18/19 Collections.
2018
2017-2018
2017
2016
Cathryn Avison
- Goldwork Embroidery for Disney's Mulan (2020).
M Industry London
- Internship, Hand & Machine Embroidery Assistant.
Alexander McQueen
-Hand Embroidery for their AW17 Pre-Collection.
Zandra Rhodes
-Finishing of Garments for Private Clients.
Game of Thrones
-Collaborative Hand Embroidery & Mixed Media.
- Large Installation to Mark the Release of Season 6.
Hussein Chalayan
-Hand Embroidery for their RTW AW16 Collection.
Exhibitions
2022
Drawn and Formed, The Goldsmith’s Centre (London)
150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to Catwalk, The Fashion and Textile Museum (London)
2021
2018
Emma Hunt’s Summer Exhibition of Cumbrian Creatives, The Rum Story (Whitehaven)
Hand & Lock: The Prize, Bishopsgate Institute (London)
New Designers, Business Design Centre (London)
RSN Degree Show, Hampton Court Palace (Surrey)
2017
Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace (London), Harrogate and Ireland
Off the Surface, Devon of Guild Craftsmen (Bovey Tracey)
2016
Knitting & Stitching Show, Kensington Olympia (London)
Awards/Competitions
2020
2018
Emerge Competition (Carlisle Hope Festival), Shortlisted.
Gold & Silver Wyre Drawers Award, Best Goldwork Embroidery in the Hand & Lock The Prize Competition.
Hand & Lock The Prize, 1st Place Winner in the Student Textile Art Category.
Make International Award (New Designers), Accommodation.
'Best Metal Thread Embroidery' Awarded by the RSN, Sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers.
'Dissertation Award' Awarded by the RSN Sponsored by The Arts Society (Greater London).
2017
'Best Technical Stitch' Awarded by the RSN Sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers.
2016
'Most Promising First Year' Awarded by the RSN, Sponsored by Friends of the RSN.
Education &
Professional Training
2020
University of Leeds
- MSc Textiles, Pass with Distinction.
2015-2018
Royal School of Needlework
- BA (Hons) Hand Embroidery for Fashion, Interiors, Textile Art, 1st Class
2008-2015
Cockermouth School
-A levels: A in Maths and Chemistry, B in Art
- AS levels: A in Maths and Chemistry, B in Art and Geography
- GCSEs: 4 A*s, 7As, 1B and 2 Distinctions
2013-2014
LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts)
-Grade 5 and 4: Distinction in Solo Acting
2013
Central Saint Martins
- Short Course in Fashion Design
