12-08-2011
Scottish textile designer Donna Wilson, who will bring her playful textiles to Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) in a new exhibition opening on 19 November, has been commissioned by YSP to create an exclusive limited edition screen print, marking the start of her printmaking career. Made to accompany the exhibition entitled ‘Endangered Species’ and available exclusively at YSP the edition of 100 has been produced on 270gsm bread and butter wood pulp paper and hand pulled by Snow Print of London. Inspiration has come from the parks landscape and features Donna’s trademark characters in the form of plants and flowers.
Awarded ‘Designer of the Year 2010’ by Elle Decoration, Donna is known for her knitted creatures, textiles, homewares and furniture. Her vision will transform the YSP Centre into a tactile enchanted garden where woolly pompoms become leaves, knitted tubes become branches and layers of patterned rugs create a forest floor. The upper space features a knitted woodland scene using Donna Wilson’s naive sculptural creations to striking effect. Mixing patterns, textures and colours, the soft shapes are a playful vision of the natural landscape. The upper concourse showcases a wall of decorated ceramic plates, framed soft knitted shapes, one-off paintings and drawings and small run prints.
The display in the four-metre shop window, a seasonal highlight at YSP, is an enticing scene with Donna’s unusual creatures hidden in woodland and complemented by her hand-drawn illustrations. Alongside the limited edition print, which can be pre-ordered from ysp.co.uk, a range of products will be available including cushions, throws and blankets, ceramics, knitted
creatures, scarves, hats, socks and gloves.
Much of Donna’s work is a celebration of traditional methods and materials combined with her distinctive style. She is committed to using UK-based manufacturers and suppliers wherever possible, keeping craftsmanship alive. Donna sources her lambswool yarns from Z. Hinchliffe and Sons in Denby Dale, West Yorkshire, and retains her Scottish roots with her smaller pieces such as the toys and scarves knitted on machines by a small family-run business in Galashiels on the Scottish border, and another lady based in Orkney has produced Donna’s ‘Cyril Squirrels’ for the last six years.
About the limited edition print:
- First ever screenprint made by Donna Wilson
- Available exclusively at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
- Edition of 100 / Size A2 / Priced £80 unframed or £125 framed
- Produced on 270gsm bread and butter wood pulp paper and hand pulled by Snow Print of London.
- Pre-order at ysp.co.uk
About Donna Wilson
Donna Wilson graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 1999 and went on to study mixed media textiles at the Royal College of Art. She set up her company in 2003 after making odd knitted creatures for her final show at the Royal College of art. The creatures sold out and since then she has built her business designing and making a collection of curious cushions, luxurious
lambswool blankets, and a variety of products for you and your home. She is passionate about creating products that people can connect with and making things that customers will treasure. Donna runs a studio and workshop in East London. Her hardworking team knit, sew, pack and send out products to individuals and design shops around the world – 25 countries at the last count. Last year Donna won the prestigious accolade of Designer of the Year 2010 in the Elle Decoration British Design Awards.
For further images
see the earlier press release