BA (Hons)

Meet the team

Academic Staff

Anne-Marie Howat – Course Leader

After completing her degree and MA studies in textiles Anne-Marie pursued a variety of projects within textiles as an embroiderer and surface manipulator. Anne-Marie has been employed as a full-time print designer, a freelance embroidery designer and as a designer/maker for fashion, interiors and for large-scale commissioned pieces. Innovation and invention became integral in the work produced, she gained awards for courture fashion fabrics, interior fabrics and stands at international textile trade shows. Invention in design spurred an interest in teaching and communicating. She became a lecturer in the textile specialism and now leads the Textiles course at the Arts University College at Bournemouth.

Emma Shercliff, Senior Lecturer in Stitch Construct

Emma worked as a freelance fashion textile designer in Paris prior to returning to the UK to pursue an academic career. Her varied experiences in the textiles industry include knit and embroidery design, trend forecasting and promotion for clients such as Premiere Vision and Peclers Paris. She has also collaborated with designers and contemporary artists in the production of installation works. She continues her own creative practice making large-scale textile pieces, video and writings, and is currently studying part-time for a PhD at the Royal College of Art.

Nicky Coyne, Senior Lecturer in Print

Graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Printed Textiles in 2001, I have since freelanced for various design agencies producing print and textile designs for both the fashion and interior market. Shortly after graduating from the RCA I won the Colour prize at Texprint enabling me to showcase my work in Paris and Hong Kong. I have a passion for drawing and painting which is a constant inspiration in my work, and have exhibited in group and solo shows both locally and nationally. I am currently represented by The Curwen Gallery in London.

Antigone Prentice, Senior Lecturer in Theory and Practice

Antigone Prentice has been working in textiles and design education since 1994, developing and delivering courses focusing on design principles,stitching,surface decoration and the theory and context of textiles. She has a 1st class Honours Degree in Interior Textiles & Surface Design and an MA in Design: Textiles. Seeing drawing as a key skill, her own practice focuses on the drawn line in screen printing, taking imagery and inspiration from the surrounding landscapes. Contextual interests focus upon the role of women in the development of textiles since the Industrial Revolution, and she is currently researching this area with the intention of studying at PhD level. She is a member of ‘Makers’ a design co-operative based in Taunton, Somerset.

Kelly Allen, Senior Lecturer in Print

Kelly graduated from The Royal College of Art in 2007 with an MA in Printed Textiles. Previous to this Kelly studied at Ravensbourne and graduated with a first class in Fashion Print. At RCA Kelly developed her unique style and handwriting in drawing everyday life, experiences and journeys, which became the core to all her creativity in Print for Fashion. Other significant inspirations include the Impressionists and Japanese Woodblock Printers, which she has been researching since 2000. Kelly has previously worked in the textile/fashion Industry both high-end and commercial, but she is now concentrating on her own collections and research, as well as working with her twin sister – Wallpaper designer Lizzie Allen.

Technical staff

Kelly Gilbert

After graduating with a first class in printed textiles at Winchester school of Art, Kelly worked in New York as an in house designer, managing printed accessories for many high profile brands including reputable department stores and high-end designers. Following this, she worked as a freelance textile designer for agents in London and New York, selling internationally for the fashion and interiors market. Digital design utilising print and laser cutting has been a recent focus of research, drawing upon manual techniques and technology to create a hybrid craft. Kelly continues to work on freelance projects for the American market.