Caron Penney
Arundel, West Sussex
Master Tapestry Weaver & Artist
Caron Penney’s career in textiles is approaching thirty years and encompasses both education and studio practice. As an educator she is affiliated with institutions such as the Fashion and Textiles Museum, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Morley College and West Dean College. Penney worked for West Dean Tapestry Studio for twenty-two years and was the Director and then a Consultant for the final five and a half years. She contributed to Tapestry - A Woven Narrative publish in 2011 and Authenticity and Replication: the ‘Real Thing’ in Art and Art Conservation, in 2014.
In 2013 Penney opened her own atelier, naming it Ateliers Weftfaced, here she makes her own tapestries and has been exhibiting nationally, at the National Centre for Craft and Design, the Holburne Museum, the MAC Birmingham and Contemporary Applied Arts (CAA) throughout 2016 & 2017. In 2016 she was selected as a member for the CAA, and in 2017 she was co-opted to the committee for the 62 Group of Textile Artists. In 2016/17 she has been working on a new series of works, ‘The Streets of Paved with Gold’ and ‘Golden Intersections’ the later are currently on show at the CAA.
Profile
Caron Penney is a master tapestry weaver, who studied at Middlesex University and has worked in textile production for over twenty years. Penney creates and exhibits her own artist led tapestries for exhibition and teaches at numerous locations across the UK. Penney is both an artisanal weaver and an artist, she has manufactured the work of artists from Tracey Emin to Martin Creed.
Employment
Dates October 2013 - Present
Position Freelance Sole Trader
Employer Ateliers Weftfaced
Clients Martin Creed, Gillian Ayres, Hauser & Wirth Gallery, Campaign for Wool, Simon Martin & Pallant House Gallery
Type of business Manufacture of Tapestry
Dates 2016 & 2017
Position Special Lecturer
Employer Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London
Level BA Hons Textile Design
Type of business Education
Dates January 2014 - July 2015
Position Consultant
Employer West Dean Tapestry Studio, W. Sussex, PO18 0QU
Clients Basil Beattie, Hayes Gallery, Craft Study Centre for ‘Artists Meets their Makers’ exhibition, Pallant House.
Type of business Manufacture of Tapestry
Dates December 2009 - October 2013
Position Director
Employer West Dean Tapestry Studio, W. Sussex, PO18 0QU
Responsibilities The main duties included directing a team of weavers, while creating commissions, curating exhibitions, developing new innovations, assisting with fundraising, and creating a conservation and archiving procedure for the department.
Clients Tracey Emin, White Cube Gallery, Martin Creed, Hauser & Wirth Gallery, Historic Scotland.
Type of business Manufacture of Textiles/Tapestry
Dates 2000 - Present
Position Short Course Tutor
Employers Fashion and Textiles Museum, Ashmolean Museum, Morley College, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Ditchling Museum, Charleston Farmhouse, West Dean College.
Education
Dates 1999 - 2001
Qualification Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Post 16)
institution Portsmouth University
Dates 1990 - 1993
Qualification BA Hons Constructed Textiles
principle studies Tapestry weaving
institution Middlesex University
Exhibitions
2017
exhibition title Present & Collect
location Contemporary Applied Arts, London
exhibition title Kate Derum Award Exhibition
location Australian Tapestry Workshop, Victoria, Australia
exhibition title Here and Now
location Holburne Museum, Bath
exhibition title Here and Now
location MAC Arts Centre, Birmingham
exhibition title Artists Meet their Makers
location Craft Study Centre, Farnham
2016
exhibition title A Winters Tale
location Contemporary Applied Arts, London
exhibition title Here and Now
location The National Centre for Craft and Design
exhibition title New Members Showcase
location Contemporary Applied Arts
exhibition title Summer Exhibition
location Zimmer Stewart Gallery, Arundel
2015
exhibition title Manhattan
location Zimmer Stewart Gallery, Arundel
exhibition title Collect 2015
location Saatchi Gallery, represented by the Wills Lane Gallery for Gillian Ayres Tapestry woven by Ateliers Weftfaced.
exhibition title Craft Now
location Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
exhibition title The Wool Collection, Campaign for Wool
location Southwark Cathedral, London
2014
exhibition title Summer Exhibition
location Royal Academy of Arts, London
2011 - 2009 - 2008
exhibition title Collect - Crafts Council
location Saatchi Gallery, London
Membership
2016 Member of the Contemporary Applied Arts, London
2016 Member of the 62 Group
Artists Talks & Events
2017 Hauser & Wirth Behind the Scenes: A Special view of Martin Creed Artworks, London Craft Week, Hauser & Wirth Gallery, London
2016 Artist Designed Tapestries, Pallant House Gallery
2015 Making Tapestry, London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
2014 Artist Talk - Campaign for Wool, Southwark Cathedral
2013 Rediscovering the Unicorn Tapestries, The Fleming Collection, London
2012 The New Unicorn Tapestries, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
2006 Tapestry Study Day, V&A Museum, London
Publications
2017 Weftfaced: House & Garden Magazine: Emily Tobin
2017 Collecting Modern Tapestries: How to Spend it - FT: Jenny Dalton
2014 Authenticity and Replication: the ‘Real Thing’ in Art and Art Conservation. London: Archetype Publications
2011 Tapestry - A Woven Narrative, Black Dog Publishing
Become a member
We support our members with: insurance, networks, space, opportunities, R&D awards, profiling, advice and mentoring.
Become a member