The contemporary textile art of Helen Cowans reflects a love of many hand and machine embroidery techniques that often produce quilted items. (I’m an embroiderer who quilts!) Work is inspired by science, landscape and eastern cultures and includes a range of items from 3D structures to large wall hangings. Helen’s love of colour and her love of adapting traditional techniques are reflected in her work. She has taught City & Guilds Embroidery and Design and Machine Embroidery and gives private workshops and lectures. She has published and exhibited both nationally and internationally and has work in private collections.

Education:

2005 Level 1 Modern and Contemporary Art (City Lit and The Tate Gallery)

2005 C&G 7923 Diploma in Design and Craft. Level 3. Creative Embroidery.

2003 C&G 7922 Certificate in Design and Craft. Level 3. Creative Embroidery.

2003 C&G 7307 Further and Adult Education Teaching Certificate.

1991 BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology.

Present studies:

Diploma in The History of Art

Publications:

2005/6 Mar/Apr. Stitch magazine - "The Science of Embroidery" Artists Profile

2005 Jan/Feb. Stitch Magazine - Towers of Flowers

2005 Winter Issue. Quilting Arts - Artists Profile

2004 Apr/May Workbox "NeedleArt by Helen Cowans". Artists profile and work.

2002 Winter Issue. Quilting Arts Magazine. "Suddenly Silk".

2002 Winter Issue. Stitch with the Embroiderers Guild.

2001 Design work for magazines "Classic Stitches", and for Coats Crafts Ltd.

Commissioned:
2007 Date to be confirmed. Classic Stitches

Awards:

2006 First prize - Art Quilt Category - Great Northern Quilt Show, Harrogate

2005 Judges Merit - Quilt Art category - Scottish Quilt Championships

2002 ICHF Fashion & Embroidery Bursary.

Exhibitions:

2006(Sept) Scottish Quilt Championships

2006 (Oct) Fashion and Embroidery Show, Harrogate

2006 Great Northern Quilt Show, Harrogate (Awarded first prize in Art Quilt Category)

2006 Festival of Quilts, NEC

2006 SAQA, Quilt Expo, Lyon, France

2006 Views of Northumberland. Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick

2006 Corbridge Tourist Information

2005 WomenFolk. Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick

2005 Scottish Quilt Champion ships (Judges Merit)

2005 Festival of Quilts, NEC

2005 Quilters Guild, Belsay Hall, Northumberland

2005 The Art Tour Open Studios

2005 "Northern Netwrok Preview", Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick.

2005 Members Exhibition, Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick.

2004 Patchwork and Quilt Expo IX, Holland.

2004 Aurora @Artworks, Newcastle upon Tyne.

2004 Riches of Stitches, Collins Gallery, Glasgow.

2003/4 Crown Studio, Elsdon, Northumberland.

2003 Fashion and Embroidery Show at Harrogate.

2003 International Quilt Festival at Houston, USA.

2003 Northumberland College End of Year Show.

2003 Aurora at The Old Chapel Arts Centre, Kirkwhelpington.

2000 Featured designer of the month at the Caron Collection web site.

Forthcoming exhibitions:

2007 July - Jersey

Memberships:

Embroiderers Guild (Chairwoman for Alnwick Branch).

Aurora (A network of Northumbrian Artists).

Network - Artists in Northumberland. (Formerly the Tynedale Artists Network).

Quilters Guild

Alnwick District Arts Association

Coquetdale Arts Centre

Surface Design Associaition

SAQA - Studio Art Quilt Associates

Teaching experience:

2006 to present Teaching at own studio

2004 - 2006 Lecturer -City & Guilds - Art, Design and Embroidery, Northumberland College

2004 - C&G Machine Embroidery, Northumberland College

2002 - 2005 Various courses for Northumberland County Council

2003 - 2004 Various workshops for the Coquetdale Arts Centre Rothbury

2002 - 2003 Various workshops for the Alnwick Garden

I give talks and workshops to Embroiderers Guild and WI branches throughout the country and undertake private workshops and tuition.