The Studio is part of the Edward James Foundation, which was established in the mid-1960s by Edward James as an educational trust based at his former family home in the South Downs.

Edward was a poet and supporter of the Surrealist movement, and is perhaps best known as a patron of Salvador Dali, although he was an avid collector of works by Magritte, Chirico, Delvaux and many others.

The Foundation established West Dean College, which opened its doors for the first time in 1971, running professional programmes in conservation and restoration of antique furniture, clocks and ceramics alongside short courses in art, crafts, music and conservation for amateurs and professionals. It quickly earned an international reputation as a centre of excellence.

In 1976, West Dean launched a diploma in tapestry weaving, taught in purpose-built workshops. The daughter of artist Henry Moore approached the workshop and asked if the professional weavers could translate one of Moore's drawings into tapestry.

So delighted were Henry and his daughter with the resulting sample that 23 Moore tapestries were commissioned.

Today, tapestry at West Dean has developed; we have a Diploma workshop and the original professional Studio working alongside each other, offering students an insight into the professional aspects of their art. Some Diploma graduates go on to join the Studio weaving team.

• The Studio is set amid the rolling South Downs and the West Dean Estate features award-winning gardens.
• In 1996, the Studio acquired its first design project and now produces site-specific works of art.
• All the weavers are trained to do their own dyeing, meaning that they can work with a limitless palette. This means that translation of designs and paintings into tapestry is far more exact.
• The West Dean weavers are all artists in their own right.
• The Studio works alongside the educational team, bringing professional tapestry alive for students of the discipline. The Studio's key members are tutors on West Dean College's postgraduate diplomas and short courses.

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