History

It is due to the vision of Edward James, supporting traditional arts and craft skills that West Dean Tapestry Studio exists today to carry on the 5,000 year old tradition of woven tapestries.

The studio opened as a commercial workshop in 1976 with a commission from Mary Moore to produce a tapestry from a drawing by her father, Henry Moore. A further seven tapestries were produced in this series which went on to be exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London in 1980, followed by a tour of New Zealand, the USA and Canada over the next 5 years.

As historical tapestries mirrored the interests and needs of their time, so contemporary works can create images and visions as an enduring legacy for the future.