Bath Textiles Artist Selected For UK's Most Prestigious Craft Fair

26 September 2006: Carole Waller (www.carolewaller.co.uk), a Bath-based award-winning textiles artist and fashion designer will be one of the big attractions at the UK's most prestigious craft fair, Origin The London Craft Fair (www.craftscouncil.org.uk), at Somerset House from 3 October until 15 October. Carole is one of twenty-nine designer makers from the south-west region taking part in the fair, a Crafts Council initiative. Origin brings together over 300 of the most innovative and influential international design-makers to sell their work. Glass, ceramics, jewellery, metal, furniture, paper, basketry, wood and textiles are all represented, making the fair a true celebration of the unique and the hand-made.

Carole Waller designs a collection of one-off garments painted in a very distinctive colourful style. Carole describes her clothing as 'wearable art', each piece being unique and emphasising fluidity and movement. Her latest collection was inspired by a film of figures on a beach and the pieces are made from a unique new fabric created by a felting technique combining wool and silk.

As well as clothing, Carole also makes large paintings using thin fabric as a canvas. A major Arts Council England award enabled Carole to expand her work to develop a new series of paintings on fragile etched cloth which are laminated between sheets of glass.

In 2003, Carole was invited to design an art installation for the International Westonbirt Festival of Gardens, Gloucestershire. The result was six large stunning panels of painted silk/viscose laminated between glass. Last year Carole's work was also used in an award winning garden designed by Sue Adcock for the Chelsea Flower Show.

Her designs and paintings are available at her studio and gallery, One Two Five, near Bath, by appointment. Her pieces can also be found in galleries in London and New York.

Nick Capaldi, Arts Council England, South West Executive Director, said: "Carole Waller is one of the designer-makers that make the south west region special. Her work contributes to the creative industries, an area in which our region excels. Origin will provide an excellent opportunity for Carole's work to reach a wider audience and build on her fast-growing reputation amongst key influencers. We wish her every success."

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For further press information about Carole Waller and images of her work please contact:

Kallaway PR
Anna Cusden 020 7221 7883 anna.cusden@kallaway.co.uk
Jessica Blomfield 020 7221 7883jessica.blomfield@kallaway.co.uk

For further information on Origin please contact:
Louise Kelly 020 7806 2580 media@craftscouncil.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Arts Council England

• Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from Government and the National Lottery. www.artscouncil.org.uk
  
  
• The Crafts Council receives annual Arts Council funding. This year, their award is over £3 million to support core costs and other activities including education, exhibitions and market development.
  
  
• Next Move is an innovative setting up scheme run by the Arts Council and Crafts Council, designed to put new designer-makers on the fast track. It provides workspace, access to equipment, grants, training and promotion opportunities in the supportive environment of a college host over a two year period.

About Origin, The London Craft Fair

• The 300 exhibitors in Origin were selected from over 900 applicants by a specialist panel of judges. 27 makers were selected from the south west region and two south west makers will be represented in Springboard, a new exhibition for emerging craft talent at Origin where 24 of the most exciting emerging makers will show and sell their work to the public for the first time.
  
  
• Origin replaces Chelsea Crafts Fair, which was held at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London for 26 years.
  
  
• Origin will showcase over 30% more exhibitors than Chelsea Crafts Fair and will be at Somerset House, Strand, London over two weeks: 3 - 8 October 2006 and 10 - 15 October 2006 (closed Monday 9 October).
  
  
• Disciplines represented in Origin include glass, ceramics, jewellery, metal, furniture, paper, basketry, wood and textiles. All disciplines are represented over the two weeks.
  

Complete List of Designer-Makers from the South West exhibiting at Origin

Designer-Makers from the South West at Springboard:

ORIGIN VISITOR INFORMATION

Dates
Week One: 3 to 8 October 2006
Week Two: 10 to 15 October 2006
Closed Monday 9 October

Venue
Somerset House, Strand, London

Opening Times
Tuesday to Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6pm
Late-night Thursday open until 9pm

Tickets
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster from 1 July
Book online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0870 160 2853

Ticket Prices
Single ticket £8 (£6 concessions)
One visit in each week £12 (£10 concessions)
Season pass (unlimited entry) £15

Further Information
www.craftscouncil.org.uk/origin
020 7806 2512

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