Rowena Ardern curriculum vitae

Email:

Web: www.rowenaardern.com
Tel: 07866591208

Profile
I am a highly creative artist /designer with experience in a broad range of media. I have good organizational skills and am enthusiastic and motivated.

Personal Statement
I explore colour in space . Drawn to the beauty, diversity and vibrancy of the natural world, I create images that capture the essence of my subject: the delicate unfurling of a leaf, the shimmer of light on water, and the velvet softness of spring blossom. This is then transferred to natural textiles through diverse methods of dye, print and stitch creating hand dyed, individually designed site specific interventions using jewel like colours that uplift the spirit. Drawing is an integral part of my process .

Current Activity
Self employed Artist / Designer Maker .

Artistic Experience
Commissions
October 2006 to March 2007		Flags and banners for National Wild Flower Centre, Liverpool.
May 2006		Private Commission for Wedding Banner
March 2006		Private Commission for Birthday banner
February 2005 to January 2006		Manchester Buddhist Centre, to make flags and banners for the shrine room, indoor and outdoor ceremonies for the Five Buddha Mandala. Arts Council England funded.
September 2005		Private drawing commission
Exhibitions (recent and significant)
July/August 2007		“Wedding Adornment “ Royal Exchange Manchester.
July 2007		“The In Show” ,Holden Gallery ,MMU Manchester.
June 2007		“TELA” Albion Green, Didsbury Manchester.
May 2007		Chorlton Arts &Crafts Exhibition,Manchester.
September/October 2006		Solo exhibition “ Prayer Flags”, Saltburn Gallery, Saltburn by the Sea ,Cleveland.
October 2006		Artefact “Work in Progress” MMU Manchester.
August 2006		Kitchen Gallery, Norton Priory, “Passionflower flags” Contemporary Crafts Exhibition.
July 2006		Blossom, Chorlton, Manchester. Solo exhibition of “Passionflower” Banner / flags and “Rose Arch“ wedding banner.
April/May 2006		Stockport Art Gallery, Group Exhibition “Is This Embroidery”, Passionflower flags and banner.
April/May 2006		Kitchen Gallery, Norton Priory, Cheshire “Open Art Competition, “Crocus” flags.
March/April 2006		Flags and banners for FWBO Day at MBC.
February/December 2006		Manchester Buddhist Centre, textiles interventions.
November to March 2006		Online exhibition at www.makemebuydesign.co.uk
December 2005		Designersink, Northern Quarter, M/C. Prayer Flags.
November 2005		Make Me Buy Design, Northern Quarter, Manchester.
February/December 2005		Manchester Buddhist Centre ceremony interventions.
September 2005		The Flag Project, Bethnal Green, London.
June 2005		MMU Manchester Exhibition, banners.
March 2005		Edge Gallery Lancaster, flags and ties
February 2005		Hot Bed Press prints.
June 2004		Manchester Metropolitan University End of Year Show
Additional experience
July 2007		The Great Indoors Central/GMEX, Manchester Childrens workshops.
January 2005/ January 2007		Artist / designer on Manchester City Pride Setting Up Scheme funded by Arts Council England, North West, managed by Manchester and Liverpool Design Initiative, based at Manchester Metropolitan University.
March to June 2007		Life Drawing tutor Manchester Metropolitan University.
Oct/ Nov 2006		Flag Workshops with refugees , Liverpool.
September 2006		Visiting Artist , Sale Grammar School , Sale ,Cheshire , stitch workshops.
October 2006		Volunteer for Fierce Earth “ Feed Me Feast “ May Lane Allotments, Birmingham.
August 2006		“Meet the Maker “ Talk at Norton Priory Cheshire.

Retail Outlets
Suzanne Devine, Manchester Crafts Centre, Northern Quarter, Manchester :Silk Ties.
Blossom, 97 Manchester Road, Chorlton :Textile Flower corsages.

Websites:
www.rowenaardern.com | www.axisweb.org.uk/rowenaardern | www.designinit.org.uk/rowenaardern

Education and Qualifications
2001 -2004 Manchester Metropolitan University BA Hons. Embroidery, First Class Honours.
1981 – 1984 S.Martins College, Lancaster , B.Ed .Hons in Education

Referees available on request