Anna Breathe.
I live in Tavistock, Devon.
To contact me, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page or go to the Contact page.
Professional interests
I am a Textile Practitioner, Designer-Maker, inspired by nature and its natural geometry which influence how I design patterns and individual pieces. My Steiner schooling cultivated my creative development from a young age through art and crafts such as hand knitting, sewing, drawing and painting.
Skills
Creative & Specialist Textiles skills:
Primary & Secondary Research
Ability to pick up on & follow a trend
Drawing, Painting, Printmaking → Linocut, Woodcut & Etching
Creating Colour Palettes
Repeat pattern design
Screen printing:
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Stripping a screen
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Coating and Exposing with a light-sensitive emulsion
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Printing with a range of binders: Translucent, Opaque (Superwhite), Pearlescent, Metallic binder and powder, Puff, Flock and Foil adhesive, Discharge Paste & Devore Paste
Vinyl → garment films
Sublimation printing
Fabric & Yarn Dyeing → Dylon & Procion MX dyeing, Natural dyeing including Indigo & Turmeric, Disperse dyeing and printing, Acid Dyeing
Embroidery → Hand, Free-hand Machine & Digital as well as operating 15 needle Tajima machines
Crochet
Knitting → Hand & Machine
Tufting → Hand & Machine
Sewing → domestic, industrial, overlocker
Garment Pattern Cutting
Bookbinding & Papermaking
Cold Glass → Cutting, Sandblasting
Hot Glass → Lampwork
Resin Casting & Polishing
Silversmith Jewellery Making
Ceramics
Computer Skills:
Working with Apple Mac & Windows computers
Scanning & Printing
Digital & film photography
Adobe Suite → particularly Photoshop & Illustrator, learning Indesign
Microsoft Office → Word, PowerPoint
Google Software → Docs, Slides, Sheets
Creating a Website → using wix.com
Product Photography with both a Sony & Canon DSLR
Rhino & using a 120W Laser Cutter
Contex scanner
Beginner in AVA Software
Recent Projects
Currently: Working on Setting up Business making Handmade Textile Products
Final Project for Second Year: Natural Colours, 18th March - 28th May 2019
Live Brief with BCT: Designing a Tile, January - March 2019
Colour Project: Nature's Romance, October 2018 - January 2019
Final Project for First Year: Plant Paradise, 16th April - 21st May 2018
Pattern Project, 28th Feb - 29th Mar 2018, I did artist research, colour palette design, used Illustrator, repeat pattern, sublimation printing, silk painting, quilting, garment films.
Made in Plymouth, 30th Jan - 28th Feb 2018, Souvenir Project, Primary and secondary research of Plymouth and ideas for souvenirs, colour palette design, used Illustrator, laser cutter, digital embroidery, Dylon dyeing, linocut printing, pattern cutting, sewing.
Tessellation Project, 2nd Jan - 19th Jan 2018, sandblasting glass, vacuum form mould making, laser cutting, resin casting, machine knitting, silicone casting, plaster of Paris casting, woodwork - cutting with a bandsaw.
Christmas Collection, 6th Dec 2017 - 2nd Jan 2017, primary drawings from life, design for screen printing and sublimation printing prepared in Photoshop, foiling, flocking, puff binder, vinyl, felting, machine knitting, machine embroidery, hand embroidery, shibori dyeing using Dylon dyes.
Education
Plymouth College of Art (PCA).
2017 - 2019
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BA (Hons) Textile Practices Degree (2.1 in second year).
Gap Year.
2016 - 2017
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Independent Study: A2 Mathematics (C).
Part-time courses: 2017.
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Intermediate Jewellery Making at SGS.
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Pattern Cutting and Sewing Techniques at SGS.
Part-time courses: 2016.
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Printmaking at SGS.
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Innovative Mixed-Media Textile Design at SGS.
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Drawing and Painting at Pegasus Art.
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS).
2014 - 2016
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UAL Extended Diploma in Art and Design Level 3.
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(Second year - Specialised in Textiles). (Merit).
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UAL Diploma in Art and Design Level 3.
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(First Year). (Distinction).
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Part-time course: 2014 - 2015, Intermediate Jewellery Making.
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Independent Study: AS Mathematics (A).
Wynstones School.
2004 - 2014
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GCSEs in June 2014:
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English Language (A),
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English Literature (A*),
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Mathematics (A),
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French (A),
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Fine Art (A),
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Music (B),
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Science (A),
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Additional Science (B) .
Part-time: Jewellery Making and Independent project.
Work experience
Up Next: Crafts fairs
Director and Manager of Dancing Lemur Studios Ltd.
February 2024 - Present
Volunteering at Tavistock Refillery
September 2023 - December 2023
Self Employment - Running Handmade Textile Products Business.
May 2021 - Present
Embroidery Machinist at Smarter Textiles.
May 2021 - December 2021
Workroom Assistant at Sharon Stone Soft Furnishing.
December 2020
Bovey Tracey Craft Festival Selling on PCA's Stall.
June 2019
Presenting work to industry Clients.
March 2019
Jewellery Commission.
December 2018
Selling and working a Christmas Stall.
November 2018
Exhibiting work. Stroud College (SGS) Part-time end of year exhibition 2017.
June 2017
Exhibiting work. Stroud College (SGS) Fashion show and End of year exhibition 2016.
June 2016
I made a collection of three outfits that were modelled as part of the Fashion Show and displayed as part of the exhibition. The theme of the collection, 'Scilly Botany', was inspired by plants in Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isles of Scilly.
Exhibiting work. SIT Select Festival Textile Trail 2016.
May 2016
After a trip to Rome, I designed and made a coat inspired by the trip and displayed it at Victoria Works, Chalford.
Exhibiting work. Stroud College (SGS) End of year exhibition 2015.
June 2015
I made a skirt based on the theme, 'Moments of Movement' and displayed it as part of the exhibition.
Assistant. Gallery Tresco Placement.
April 2015
I helped out at the opening night and with some cataloguing of art pieces. Gallery Tresco is an arts gallery on Tresco, Isles of Scilly.
Selling work. Pop Up Shop.
December 2014
I printed imagery onto wood and sold two pieces.
Assistant. Mann Jewellers Placement.
Feb 2013
I had a week's work experience placement at Mann Jewellers in Stroud, where I set out the window display and assisted around the shop and with customers.
Commissions.
Summer 2012
I received four separate paid commissions to make three rings and a pendant.