11-11-2011
YSP Centre and Shop, 19 November 2011 to 26 February 2012
Scottish designer Donna Wilson brings her playful textiles to YSP this winter, drawing inspiration from the landscape to create an eccentric world of knitted trees and curiosities featuring her trademark patterns and colours alongside exclusive limited edition prints. Her vision will transform the YSP Centre into a tactile enchanted garden from 19 November 2011 to 26 February 2012.
Named Designer of the Year 2010 by Elle Decoration and with ranges sold across 25 countries worldwide, Donna is known for her knitted creatures, textiles, homewares and furniture. The Upper Space in YSP’s visitor centre features a knitted woodland scene using Donna’s striking knitted patterns, blending textures and colours in the form of trees and animals resting on a carpet of luxurious rugs, with a wall of limited edition screen prints and giclee prints. The centre’s Upper Concourse showcases a wall of one-off original watercolours and drawings, ceramic plates, framed soft knitted plants and flowers with directional signage by Donna.
The display in the shop window is an enticing scene with Donna’s unusual creatures hiding in woodland, complemented hand drawn illustrations. A range of products are available to buy in store or online at ysp.co.uk including cushions, throws and blankets, ceramics, creatures, scarves, hats, socks and gloves, and stationery.
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 toys and scarves knitted on machines by a small family run business in Galasheils on the Scottish borders.
The events programme accompanying the exhibition includes a free Professional Practice Talk at Huddersfield University, sponsored by Tigerprint, on 1 February 2012 where Donna will talk about her progress from graduate to award-winning textile designer and a cushion-making workshop with the opportunity to make a luxurious lambswool cushion on 18 February 2012. Visit ysp.co.uk/donna for details.
About the artist:
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.