From Another Thread

Jill Phillips Artist Statement Jill Phillips is an award-winning multi-disciplinary designer of bespoke textiles and interiors, with her skills and interests in print and imagery also leading her into other unusual projects where creativity and vision is required. Education: University of Ulster, Scottish College of Textiles, St Martins and KLC obtaining degree level amongst a variety of certificates in specialise fields. An industrial textile designer for almost ten years, Jill Phillips’s passion for fabric, texture and pattern is evident in her collection of stand-alone textile art, wallpaper and apparel. Much of her current work has evolved from concepts intrinsically linked to her and is often incorporated into her work in delightfully surprising ways. Printing and laser cutting can be found on textiles. “All my life I've been attracted by the contrast of old and new, past and present, experience and innocence, antique and modern. And this is the inspiration behind my work - a desire to explore the traditional and the past, and to imagine how this can inform the future. Nothing is as it seems. Subtlety is key. Elegantly deviant in all forms. My pieces encourage the observer to construct their own visual experience, a subconscious impression at first but one which slowly ripens into awareness. Drawing on aspects of cognitive science, the pieces persuade the brain and eye to connect, and then re-connect, and in this way stimulate a progression of engagements to allow new forms to emerge.” ‘My passion includes the combination of using the old with the new; visually, through stories and also through technology. The technology allows me to present the old in new and exciting forms: - achieving a style that is unique and unobtainable by using other methods. The technology, mainly used in mass production is experimented with and by this process I explore visual delights. By combining all the processes, I gain a style which is layered, allowing the observer to connect and reconnect to the piece and each time to gain something new from it, whether it be a texture, pattern or form.’ Customer markets are available via private or public commissions and interior designers via exhibitions. Jill’s work is unique or limited edition providing the client with innovative design and exceptional quality. EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS: DCCI Mentor appointed Sept 21. Obvious MM8, R Space Gallery, 2020. Linen Lab, F.E McWilliam Gallery, Oct 2019 Linen Biennale, MCAC, Portadown, Northern Ireland. 2018. Linen Diaspora, Biennale Internationale du Lin de Portneuf, Canada,2011. Embracing Technology, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Crafts Council of Ireland, Aug 2010. Group Exhibition. Future Makers, 2010, Crafts Council of Ireland, awarded grant. Irish People, Irish Linen, Kathleen Curtis Wilson. published 2010, featured artist. Designers and Makers, F.E. Mc William Gallery, Banbridge. Oct-09 to Jan-10, 5 pieces exhibited. Code Red, Belfast, Culture night 2009. Different Buses, Craft NI, Belfast. Sept-Nov 2009, solo exhibition. Organic Geometry, National Craft Museum of Ireland, April 09. Three pieces exhibited. Down County Museum, Craft Fair Coordinator 2008, “A Victorian Christmas”. Design and marketing. Hidden Art, September 2008. Crafts Council, UK, September 2008. Exhibited Designers Block, Milan 2008 with Jill Phillips furniture. ‘Making Changes’, Contemporary Souvenir. Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast. July 2007 Exhibited London Design Week 2007 with Jill Phillips furniture. A Fine Line, Gujarat, India, working with local craftsmen to design products to improve their business. Four people selected from UK to participate, including me. Contemporary Souvenir, Craft NI, Ormeau Bath Gallery, furniture commissions, August 2007. RDS National Crafts Awards- 3 tables in final judging, July 07. Crafts Council of Ireland, May 2007. Smithsonian Textile Exhibition, Washington, USA. “Mini” June 2007 South Belfast Partnership, New Business Award, runner up. Interior Motives, Construct Ireland Magazine, Issue 9, Vol. 2. Guest editor, sustainable interior design. Invest NI Design Consultant, working freelance with government assisted companies regarding design issues from forecasting trends to product design. Sustainable Interior Design, lecturing at the Green Living Fair, Sept 2005. Lecturer University of Ulster on a part time project basis completed this over several years and groups (printed textiles) between 1997 and 2003. Design Awards: Decosit, Brussels 2000-2003, Worldwide Textile Fair. “Trends 2001/02” Mor Collection, Design One, Print Design. “Trends 2002/03”, Warped Collection, Drawn, Woven Design. “Trends 2002/03”, Most Trendy, Warped Collection, Reed, Woven Design.