Our People
Becky Dodman Wainwright
Lecturer in BA (Hons) Textile Design & Co-Course Leader for Postgraduate Studies
<p dir="ltr">With a passion for art, and interiors, Becky Dodman Wainwright is a multi-disciplinary textile designer and artist with a colourful and bold style. Having worked for over a decade in the textile industry and as a lecturer at Arts University Plymouth, the Devon born designer is creating from a diverse heritage of Chinese and Colombian influence. Her work explores traditional crafts to produce textile collections. She lives and works in the South West of England. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Her recent project, Tasseography Textiles, aims to poke fun at the mundanity of tea in our everyday rituals, and how we use tea as a sensory activity to bring our selves together to talk, share experiences and plan for the future. Like her British great grandmother (in rural South Devon) she uses tea leaf readings to subvert the act of tea drinking, exploring spirit, shape and colour with the people around her. Becky has created, a generative participatory design approach that works with people (designers and non-designers alike) to explore their own internal landscapes, and ‘otherness’ as amorphic future Us. This participatory process creates design plans for textile art works. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Dodman’s adventurous approach to her methods, incorporate a personable and collaborative style at her core. Taking traditional methods of tapestry, tufting and knit, Dodman transforms these methods which result in her instantly recognisable, fun and vibrant contemporary artworks. Sharing joyfulness is central to her work.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Becky is creative with an advanced understanding of technical knit developments (for the domestic knitting machine), tapestry weaving, crochet for 3D forms, and tufting (gun) for rug outputs. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Previously Becky lectured on our BA (Hons) Fashion course, and is currently a lecturer on our BA (Hons) Textile Design course, as well as being Co-Course Leader for Postgraduate Studies. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Becky’s current project Tasseography Textiles (2021), has been featured in New York’s Talking Textile Magazine, and she was shortlisted and exhibited at the prestigious Making It Exhibition (2021) in the Jubilee Gallery, Devon Guild of Craftsmen at Bovey Tracey, Devon. In addition her Arts Council England funded solo show presented this project and celebrated the 40 participants, taking place at Ocean Studios, Plymouth from Sept - Oct 2021 (UK).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Her Linkedin profile can be seen <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckydodman/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">You can see highlights of Becky's work <a href="https://linktr.ee/Beckydodmanwainwright" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong><strong>Writing, Honors, Awards and Residencies </strong><br /></strong></p>
<p>Cultivator Cornwall. Sept 2021 - Ongoing<br />Sub-Text - Peer-Reviewed Academic Journal Article. Sept 2021 <em>Using tasseography to co-design bespoke textile outputs. Arts University Plymouth. UK</em><br />Arts University Plymouth Fab Lab Residency exploring Craft with Digital Technologies. Made@EU Feb 2015<br />Finalist for Knitted Textiles Award 2011, Alexandra Palace, London<br />
International Halls, Harrogate, the Knitting and Stitching Shows, UKHKA<br />
Shortlisted for the Hammerson Fashion Innovation Award at Graduate Fashion Week 2011, Earls Court London<br />
Finalist for Knitwear Designer of the Year Clothes Show Live, 2010, Birmingham NEC<br /></p>
<p><strong>Grants<br /></strong><br />Tasseography for Textile Design 2020 - 2021: Arts Council Funded.<br />Renaissance Moves 2019: Arts Council Funded and Creative Technology Network South West Funded.<br />
Metamorphosis 2015-2016: Arts Council Funded.<br />
Made@EU Fab Lab Plymouth Residency Feb 2015: Arts University Plymouth and Made@EU Funded.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Research project with Museum of London Dec - June 2024 (fully funded) - culminating in an academic paper: </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>"How can insights be gained, and how can we measure well-being enhancements resulting from a 6-week textile women’s project facilitated by the Museum of London's Flourishing Neighbourhoods project, in collaboration with The Peel and a Textile Artist?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eG0MLl1i92uVeUMgxHjMA8Gns0ZFrQ2c5zKAZUBhSTE/edit?usp=sharing">Paper structure MOL Peel Bdw - working progress </a> (as of 23/4/2024)</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RkG3mn6W8qGfi9YzpfYw4ldUngRDXHOWrHgbFljaJ78/edit#slide=id.p">Therapeutic Landscapes 2023/4</a> - exhibition and presenting paper (peer reviewed) </p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wPI6taU_BaFqDmLze_ntX-RoeE-CJbGm_ELPWds7c2o/edit">Copy of Paper - Therapeutic Landscapes March 2024 </a></p>
<p dir="ltr"> Becky’s research explores themes of transition, participatory design, and relational aesthetics in art, in addition, Becky explores rhetorical design theory and visual wellbeing with textile art outputs.</p>
<p>She has recently authored a book: Design Infusions: An illustrated Tea Leaf Dictionary for Co Design (Available on Amazon). <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hIih9QSlSd2Efbck8UwRTmHhhSaEfv7tcP13OKOunkc/edit">The story of Design Infusions SPOKEN PIECE</a> for the book launch. (followed by a technical talk about how the book was made)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Print in Action March 2024 - Intersections of Print with Tapestry Weaving. Talk <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1sw72Jw-z0f89xe9X496kgToTd9XFnGH3c38JbNHkOoI/edit?fromCopy=true">Copy of Practice talk at Ocean Studios feb 2024 </a> </p>
<p dir="ltr">Inspired by Hilma Af Klimt, Kandinsky, Henri Mattise, Patrick Heron and textile artist Elenor Stonaker, Becky explores the interplay between relational theory, colour, and performance.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mediums: Tapestry Weaving, Tufting, Domestic Knitting Machine, Hand-Knit, Crochet, Mixed Media, Textiles, Pattern Cutting, Draping on the Stand, Knit Pattern Development, generative participatory design processes.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr"><br /><strong>Exploring Arts, Ritual, Folklore and Wellbeing.</strong> March 2024. Authored Paper - <a href="https://therapeuticlandscapes.wordpress.com/">https://therapeuticlandscapes.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Book Launch</strong> - March 2024 <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Design-Infusions-Illustrated-Dictionary-Co-design-ebook/dp/B0CP8H9SK6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GRGH936YJNG0&keywords=Design+infusions%3A+Illustrated+tea+leaf+Dictionary+for+Co-design&qid=1701721955&s=books&sprefix=design+infusions+illustrated+tea+leaf+dictionary+for+co-design%2Cstripbooks%2C126&sr=1-1">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Design-Infusions-Illustrated-Dictionary-Co-design-ebook/dp/B0CP8H9SK6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GRGH936YJNG0&keywords=Design+infusions%3A+Illustrated+tea+leaf+Dictionary+for+Co-design&qid=1701721955&s=books&sprefix=design+infusions+illustrated+tea+leaf+dictionary+for+co-design%2Cstripbooks%2C126&sr=1-1</a> Available on Amazon / worldwide</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Artist Facilitator and Researcher</strong>. Museum of London. (Freelance Feb - April 2024) . </p>
<p dir="ltr">Becky is co authoring a paper “heritage, textiles and wellbeing”. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Therapeutic Landscapes Conference</strong>. Worcester University. Reading Authored Paper Premonition of This Place (2024) <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RkG3mn6W8qGfi9YzpfYw4ldUngRDXHOWrHgbFljaJ78/edit#slide=id.p">Therapeutic Landscapes 2023/4</a> <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wPI6taU_BaFqDmLze_ntX-RoeE-CJbGm_ELPWds7c2o/edit">Copy of Paper - Therapeutic Landscapes March 2024 </a></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Print in Action.</strong> Ocean Studios Guest Speaker and Exhibitor. (2024) <br /></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Top 100 Textile Artists</strong> - By Textile Curator (2022) </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Premonition of This Place.</strong> Southcombe Barn Gallery. Widecombe on the Moor. 2022 (Residency with Milly Brown)</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Assessment Writing for Qualifications</strong> (freelance 2021 - 2022) </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Crafts Council</strong> (Associate Member 2021 - ongoing)<br /></p>
<p><strong>Exhibitions</strong><a href="https://indd.adobe.com/view/b038a58a-1a8e-4d96-b98f-861448ed9333"><br /></a></p>
<p><strong>2024:<strong><br /></strong></strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>We Could Be Witches</strong>, Fish Factory Arts, April 2024 (Tapestry Weavings, Group Exhibition)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Print in Action</strong>, Ocean Studios, Plymouth. March 2024 (Tapestry Weavings, Group Exhibition)</p></li></ul><div><strong>2023:</strong></div><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Brighten Ye Corners</strong>. Field System Gallery. Ashburton. 2023 (Tapestry Weavings, Group Exhibition) </p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Tasseography Textiles</strong>. Ocean Studios. 2023 (Large Tapestry Weavings) </p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Deep in Thought</strong>. Cista Arts. Online International. 2023 (Tapestry weavings, group exhibition, publication)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Fortune Teller</strong>. Fronteer Gallery. Sheffield. 2023 (painting, group exhibition)</p></li></ul><div><strong>2022:</strong></div><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Premonition of This Place</strong>. Southcombe Barn Gallery. Widecombe on the Moor. 2022 (Exhibition with Milly Brown)</p></li></ul><div><strong>2021:</strong></div><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Tasseography Textiles</strong>. Ocean Studios, Plymouth. 2021 (Solo Exhibition. Arts Council Funded, Dom Moore Photo Supported)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>MA Show.</strong> Arts University Plymouth. Plymouth 2021 (Group Exhibition)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Tasseography</strong> for Textile Design 2020 - 2021 (Fine Art Textiles - ongoing)</p></li></ul><div><strong>2019:</strong></div><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Renaissance Moves</strong> 2019 Arts Council and Creative Technology Network South West Funded(Embroidery)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>For the Love</strong> 2018-19 (Knitwear)</p></li></ul><div><strong>2018:</strong></div><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Cats and Flowers</strong> 2018 (Art Works for Prints and Cross Stitch)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Family</strong> 2017-18 (Knitwear)</p></li></ul><div><strong>2017:</strong></div><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Fuzzy Boobs and Merkins</strong> 2017 (Tufted Textiles for Garments)</p></li></ul><div>2011-2016</div><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Metamorphosis </strong>2015-2016 Arts Council Funded (Knitwear)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Wendell </strong>2013 (Knitwear)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Hundertwasser</strong> 2012 (Knitwear)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Psychedelic Seraphine</strong> 2011 (Knitwear)</p></li></ul><div><strong>Press:</strong><br /><a href="https://www.edelkoort.com/shopping/sample-product/nytm-generation-2020/">New York Talking Textiles</a>, <a href="https://www.selvedge.org/blogs/selvedge/devon-guild-of-craftsmen">Selvedge</a>, Cover Magazine Issue 64, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/7bdapq/rave-knitwear-929">VICE Magazine</a>, Tribe Magazine, Simply Knitting, Knit Now, Herald.<br /></div>
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