Susan Hufton

I am firmly of the opinion that people learn most effectively when they are excited about a subject. So I aim to spark off ideas by introducing them to possibilities, helping them to learn new skills and encouraging them to express their own ideas in individual ways. Because everyone has a different approach, I do not assign ‘set projects’ and I like people to come with ideas of their own. Once they have been shown how to do something, then it is wonderful to watch how each person expresses themselves through their choice of materials, theme and bringing together of elements

I want students to come with an open mind to learn and then go home equipped to continue by themselves. This means learning new skills, having the time and space and advice to think about and explore new ideas and importantly being inspired. Inspiration in a class setting comes though the intensity of being in a sympathetic environment, having one’s eyes opened to different materials and methods of working and valuable interaction with other people

I start from the premise that people should as far as possible understand something of the tradition, purpose and function of something so that this can inform the making process. I make use of demonstrations to show the detail of handling materials as well as to show how particular structures are made. Much discussion is encouraged to articulate and explore ideas.

I am very interested in letterform and how it influences the communication of ideas and impressions. Over the years, I have continually been challenged and inspired by the work of artists who have sought to express essential form, line, colour and this had led me to express my own ideas in as simple a way as I can. Quotations are often my staring point as they find a relevance to my current thinking and experiences. Then the choice of appropriate materials often shapes the direction a work will take as I respond to using fabric, vellum and stone as well as fine papers.

http://web.me.com/suehufton/calligraphy/home.html
www.saintjohnsbible.org

I trained at Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, now RoehamptonUniversity, first gaining a BEd Honours degree and then three years of full-time study for calligraphy Diplomas. I was awarded a Crafts Council advanced training grant to study letter carving.

I have taught many workshops in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and Finland. Since 1972, I have been a short course tutor at West Dean. From 2001-2008 I taught bookbinding and calligraphy at RoehamptonUniversity and was latterly the course convener. I am a co-writer & tutor of the Roehampton Calligraphy Correspondence Course. I regularly teach BA students in Calligraphy at SatakunnanArtSchool in Finland.

I have carried out commissions for public and private clients and some of my work is included in the Crafts Study Centre’s collection of calligraphy at Farnham. I am one of the scribes of the Saint John’s Bible commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University in Minnesota.

Calligraphy Step-by-step, 1995, Weidenfeld and Nicholson.
Consultant to The Usborne book of Calligraphy
I have many articles published in calligraphy journals in the UK and USA as well as contributions to some in Australia and Finland. For twelve years I was the editor of The Scribe, the journal of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators.

I have been an elected Fellow of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators since 1987. I am a member of the Society of Authors.

I am a Full Member of Letter Exchange.