Curriculum Vitae
Rachel Cox
e-mail: rachel@meltedfabrics.com
website: http://www.meltedfabrics.com
Artist's Bio
The art of textiles and crafts have been very important to me since I was introduced to them over 9 years ago. I am passionate about all aspects of textile manipulation and embellishment and have been since high school.
I love to create one- off textiles art pieces, handbags, bed throws/ art quilts, figurines and individual wall hangings.
A variety of different textures and images inspire my work, and I am interested in the relationship between colours. I find inspiration for my work in many places. Currently I am particularly fascinated in natural stimuli and the inherent beauty of cell structures.
My pieces are richly textured: lots of fabrics, lots of different stitching, and beads for an encrusted look. I’m particularly fond of appliqué and layering fabrics and, sometimes, strong fabric- like papers. I will usually start a textile piece by layering tiny scraps of precious fabrics and papers onto a background fabric. Once these scraps have been carefully placed I will cover them with a piece of sheer fabric. All of the layers are then sewn together with complimentary threads. Once embroidered I will sometimes use heat to blast through the different layers of fabric to produce a more chaotic and random effect than cut away appliqué.
Skills and Strengths
· A developed sense of personal style
· An interest in learning new skills and how to use then within
my field
· Extensive skills in fabric manipulation
· Crafting textiles art, bags and accessories
· Crafting Headdresses and figurines
· Competency in computers, particularly Word, Adobe Photoshop 7
and Dreamweaver MX
· Experience designing, running and online advertising of a website
· Experience setting up and running a textiles groups on the internet
· Presentation and exhibition planning and presentation
· Problem solving skills
Experience
· Securing display space at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
in June 2006.
· Participation in the “Nine Days of Art in Devon”
Event in September 2005.
· Solo Textiles Exhibition at Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, May 2005.
· Three years experience of running an art- based website, organising
a studio, working to a budget, maintaining my own stock levels, and digitally
recording my art.
· Selling textiles art over the Internet to people in America,
Australia, France and the UK.
· Worldwide Commissions.
· Weekend workshop in America on the use of silicone on stretchy
fabric, amongst other textiles courses during my BA (Hons) degree.
Education, Training and Qualifications
· BA(Hons) Costume for the Screen and Stage, Arts Institute at
Bournemouth, Wallisdown, Poole, Dorset.-2000- 2003.
· Foundation studies in Art and Design-Merit, Exeter College, Preston
Street, Exeter, Devon- 1999-2000.
· BTEC General National Vocational Qualification in Art and Design-
Distinction
· Advanced Level Psychology- B, Exeter College, Hele Road, Exeter,
Devon- 1997-1999.
· GCSE Art and Design, Drawing and Painting- A*
· GCSE Art and Design, Textiles-A*
· 7 GCSEs- A-B
· GCSE Maths- C, Uffculme School, Chapel Hill, Uffculme, Devon-
1993-1997