The ‘Waterlily’ waistcoat 1976. Private collection. On loan for the exhibition.This quilted garment inspired a couture collection of silk applique jackets for Bill Gibb.
Sue in her studio in 1979. The spray-dyed/quilted jacket that she is working on will be featured in the show. |
Stitching the Decades
Sue Rangeley ~ Embroidered Originals
Studio creations 1974 - 2024
Sue’s exhibition takes a backwards glance, showing highlights from a fascinating life as a textile artist. A career which was launched in 1974/5 with a modest collection of embroidered evening bags, cushions and waistcoats.
In 1976 Sue’s work caught the attention of Vogue magazine writer Judy Brittain. From a Cotswold studio, set in a rambling Victorian house, where other artists and craftspeople worked, Sue’s early career echoed the vibes of the time with the revival of British arts and crafts encouraged by the Crafts Council (founded in 1972).
There were pivotal moments in the late 1970s which brought Sue’s embroidered fashions and interior textiles to receive worldwide interest: couture commissions for the designer Bill Gibb; photos in Vogue magazine; exhibiting in the Crafts Council shop at the Victoria & Albert Museum; an exhibition in Paris and international clients.
Sue’s signature style emerged towards the end of the 1970s: embellished fashions with a romantic touch; delicate painted silks and free flowing patterns of quilting; textures strewn with flora and butterflies.
The exhibition begins with a peek at those early works, which appeared on the front covers of Crafts and the Embroidery magazines, inspiring international exhibitions and commissions. Included in the display will be the first sketches of embroidered bags (1978/79) alongside the petite painted purses, hundreds were made during the 1980s decade, perhaps you own one!
The exhibition will reflect the inspirations and techniques which have captured Sue’s imagination during nearly 50 years of creativity. From finished works to sketchbook doodles, displays will give a unique glimpse into the artistry of a contemporary embroiderer. Beyond the archive pieces will be a selection of recent textiles from the book ‘Embroidery Atelier – Visions & Passions’. Plus a new piece created especially for the exhibition.
Fashion sketches, 1980, for a private client. From the hundreds of design drawings in the studio archive a selection will be on display, giving an insight into Sue’s working practice |
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