Work by West Dean MFA alumni Cherie Lubbock

Master of Fine Art 2017 - 2019

Emma Straw

Studio Weaver

What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?

My biggest achievement since leaving the college is probably having the work from my MA exhibition selected for ARTAPESTRY6, so it will be exhibited in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Poland over the next two years, hopefully providing exposure for my work and experience of being in an international exhibition.

Being asked to come back and work in the Tapestry Studio was also a pretty big achievement too!

Talk us through your career path since graduating

I left West Dean in September 2019, after a couple of months applying for exhibitions and participating in craft fairs, I was asked to interview for the position of Trainee Weaver in the December and was back at West Dean in January 2020, to start on my first professional project,  "The Empress of the Insects", working on the tapestry with live weaving demonstrations as part of London Art Fair.

What are you currently working on?

I have been working on samples for various projects from my home studio in Nottingham since the first lockdown. Alongside this, I have also been continuing to work within my own practice, creating tapestries inspired by the pigment drawings I created during my MA, and experimenting with the 3-dimensional qualities tapestry weaving techniques have to offer.

How do you think studying at West Dean College prepared you for what you do now?

West Dean prepared me really well for what I do now! From taking part in the tapestry weaving classes in Fine Art, access to the dye rooms throughout my MA and tutoring from Tapestry Studio Leader, Philip.

What's your favourite memory from your time at the College?

West Dean was a really beautiful place to study, I'm grateful I get to start my career here and excited to see where things lead!

Find out more about the Master of Fine Art course

West Dean School of Arts Credit-Thom Atkinson

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