Artists Profile

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Artist's Statement:

Helen Cowans has been utilising textiles since 2001 and her colourful, contemporary work ranges from 3D structures to large wall hangings and reflect a love of many hand and machine embroidery techniques that are often combined with mixed media.

Her fine art paintings of evocative landscapes are informed by wind and rain swept hills, snow-capped moors and stormy seas. These are interpreted with a passion and love of the landscape she views every day.

She is an award winning, qualified tutor. She teaches and lectures freelance around the UK (and in 2008, in Australia). Her work has published and exhibited both nationally and internationally.

Education:
2010 Indian Art; A History. Oxford Univeristy, 10 CATS points
2010 Ritual and Religion in Prehistory. Oxford Univeristy, 10 CATS points
2005 C&G 7923 Diploma in Design and Craft. Level 3. Creative Embroidery.
2004 Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Art Level 1 (Tate Gallery)
2004 OCN Batik
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:

Books:
2006 Creative Quilting; The Journal Quilt Book. Publisher - Quilting Arts Inc.

Magazines:
2008 Cross Stitcher, Issue 203, Artists Profile
2007 Quilters Guild, “The Accidental Quilter”
2007 Classic Stitches, “Putting Stitching into Perspective”, Artists Profile.
2007 Quilting Arts Gifts, “Towers of Snowflakes”
2006 Stitch Magazine, Issue 40, “The Science of Embroidery”, Artists Profile.
2006 Stitch Magazine Issue 39, “Towers of Flowers”.
2006 Classic Stitches, Issue 72, “Hearts Entwined”.
2005 Quilting Arts Magazine, Issue 20, Artists Profile.
2005 Quilting Arts Magazine, Issue 20, “Knit, Stitch & Distress”.
2004 Workbox, Apr/May “NeedleArt by Helen Cowans”. Artists profile and work.
2002 Quilting Arts Magazine. Winter Issue, "Suddenly Silk".
2002 Stitch with the Embroiderers Guild, Winter Issue..
2001 Design work for magazines "Classic Stitches", and for Coats Crafts Ltd.

Awards:
2006 Great Northern Quilt Show – First Prize, Art Quilt Category.
2005 Scottish Quilt Championships – Judges Merit, Art Quilt Category.
2002 ICHF Fashion & Embroidery Student Bursary.

Selected / Juried exhibitions:
2006 SAQA “Breaking Boundaries”, Quilt Expo, Lyon
2006 Festival of Quilts, NEC – Contemporary Quilt Guild – “Fissures”

Exhibitions:
2011 Textile Forum, Pins and Needles exhibition, Newcastle
2010 (year out due to collapse of studio building)
2009 Crossing Borders @ Eastgate Gallery, Peebles
2009 "Mountain High River Deep", Berwick upon Tweed
2009 Alnwick Arts Association Summer Exhibition
2009 Northumberland Art Fair, Woodhorn Museum
2009 Textile Forum, Pins and Needles exhibition, Newcastle
2008 Western Australia Quilt, Craft & Stitch Show – Perth, Australia
2008 Twyne in the Garden – Gallery No.27, Wooler
2008 Textile Forum, Pins and Needles exhibition, Newcastle
2007 Festival of Quilts, NEC – Quilt Creations
2007 Fenton Centre Gallery, Northumberland
2006 Network Artists @ Corbridge Ti Gallery
2006 Festival of Quilts, NEC – Quilters Guild Challenge
2006“Views of Northumberland”, Bondgate Gallery
2006 Scottish Branches Centenary Exhibition, various locations in Scotland
2006 Momentum, Embroiderers Guild Centenary Exhibition, Hartlepool
2005 Scottish Quilt Championships, Edinburgh
2005 Festival of Quilts, NEC
2005 Quilters Guild, Belsay Hall, Northumberland
2005 Network Artists Northumberland - Art Tour Open Studios
2005 Art Tour Preview, Bondgate Gallery
2005 “Womenfolk” Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick, Northumberland.
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 ICHF 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:
Fashion & Embroidery Show, March 2012
Loch Lomond Quilt Show, May 2012

Memberships:
Embroiderers Guild
Quilters Guild of Great Britain and Contemporary Quilt Group
Crossing Borders
Alnwick District Arts Association
Twyne Textile Group

Teaching experience:
2002 – present self employed tutor, lecturer and author

Notable teaching contracts;
2009 Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles (Scotland) Summer School
2009 Northern Region Embroiders Guild Summer School
2008 International Artist, Western Australia Quilt, Craft & Stitch Show

Past life employment:
2000-2004 Helen Cowans Photography - Wedding Photographer
1997-2000 Sales & Marketing, SMA Nutrition. Northumberland and Cumbria.
1994-1997 Account Manager ,LTI Ltd, Northern England and Scotland
1991-1994 Laboratory Research, Human Genome Project. London