profile
Kate studied art, ceramics, textile printing and weaving at college and later decided to pursue her interest in embroidery and adventurous textile techniques.
Studying for City and Guilds Certificates and years of teaching have led Kate down many different routes, developing varied themes and working with a number of mediums and techniques such as hand and machine stitch, appliqué, collage, printing, dyeing and painting fabric. More recently Kate has incorporated ceramics into her work and used heat tools and the embellisher machine to create interesting effects. Master classes run by John Allen gave more impetus to design aspects.
Recent themes have included work based on ‘Doorways’ in vernacular buildings, the Staffordshire Hoard and the River Thames and its environs. Kate prefers themes which have some connection to her life and to which she can develop an emotional response. Currently she is returning to her early interest in natural forms and structures and has produced work based on ammonites. The beauty of trees, woodland and water also provide sources of inspiration which she is looking forward to exploring.
She has taught for over 25 years, firstly for Surrey County Council, then Richmond Adult Education College and for the Kingston Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild. Kate now runs regular classes privately and enjoys passing on skills and her enjoyment and passion for the subject.
qualifications
1987-90 … City and Guilds Embroidery Part 2
1984-87 … City and Guilds Embroidery Part 1
1962-63 … Art Teachers’ Certificate, London University Institute of Education
1960-62 … National Diploma in Design, Birmingham College of Art
1958-60 …Intermediate Course in Art, Sutton Coldfield College of Art
membership
Embroiderers’ Guild
Phoenix Contemporary Textile Group (PCTG)
Embroiderers’ Guild (Kingston and District Branch)
Fabrications
New Embroidery Group
exhibitions
Kate has exhibited regularly since 1980, recent exhibitions are listed below.
2018 … Threads of Identity, Fabrications, Robert Phillips Gallery, Walton–on-Thames
2017 … Box of Delights, PCTG, Fountain Gallery, East Molesey, Surrey
2017 … Bewitched Stitches, Kingston Branch of the Embroiderers Guild, Kingston-on-Thames.
2017 … Moving On, NEG Knitting and Stitching Show, London and Harrogate.
2017 … Connected by Thread, Embroiderers’ Guild, Denbies Vineyard, Dorking.
2017 … Ebb and Flow, Fabrications, Robert Phillips Gallery, Walton-on-Thames.
2016 … Time and Place, Fabrications, The Lightbox, Woking.
2016 … Strata- a Stitched Excavation, PCTG, Robert Phillips Gallery, Walton-on-Thames.
2016 … Ramster Embroidery and Textile exhibition, Chiddingfold, Surrey 2015 … ‘Carry on Stitching’, KEG – Kingston Museum Art Gallery, Surrey
2015 … ‘In Our Element’, Fabrications – Robert Phillips Gallery, Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames
2014 … ‘The Point of the Needle’, NEG – Hall Place, Kent / Oxmarket Arts Centre, Chichester, West Sussex
2014 … Fabrications – The Lightbox, Woking, Surrey
2014 … ‘Threads of Conversation’, PCTG – Robert Phillips Gallery, Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames
2013 … ‘Meet the Sew and Sews’, KEG – Kingston-upon-Thames Museum Art Gallery
2013 … Ramster Embroidery & Textile exhibition – Chiddingfold, Surrey
2012 … ‘Between Cloth and a Hard Place’, ‘4 x 4’ – Menier Gallery, London / Knitting & Stitching Show, London
2012 … ‘Leaving Our Mark’ Fabrications – Robert Phillips Gallery, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
2012 … ‘Between Cloth and a Hard Place’, 4 x 4 – Menier Gallery, London
2011 … ‘Old World, New Eyes’ PCTG – Robert Phillips Gallery, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
2011 …. Ramster Embroidery and Textile Exhibition, Chiddingfold, Surrey.
work published
‘Inspired to Stitch’ by Wendy Lees
contact
Email: kdavis398@aol.com
Tel: 020 8398 0771