Two Carmarthen School of Art graduates have each received a £1,000 boost from Wonderwool Wales to launch their future textiles careers.
Jade Carey Holt, 22, from Aberystwyth and Kay-lee Davies, 34, from Capel Dewi, near Llandysul, are this year’s winners of annual bursaries awarded by Wonderwool Wales to graduates from the BA Textiles course at Carmarthen School of Art, part of Coleg Sir Gâr.
Held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells every April, Wonderwool Wales is the premier wool and natural fibres show in Wales. The event brings together people and businesses with a passion for Welsh wool and its versatility as a material for creative
crafts, designer clothes, home furnishings and more.
Jade, who completed a multi-disciplined BA Textiles course, plans to use the bursary to buy a loom to set up her own business in Swansea.
She wants to spend some time experimenting and collaborating with the creative community in Swansea, but sees herself designing and making bespoke woven products, including wall hangings, clothing and accessories in the future.
“I am really happy to win the Wonderwool Wales bursary. Out of all the bursaries available, it was the one that I wanted the most because it’s an amazing opportunity to exhibit my work next year and to buy a loom.”
Kay-lee completed her BA Textiles course as a part-time student over six years, with funding support from the Welsh Government. She has secured residencies at Carmarthen School of Art next year and Newtown Textile Museum this summer.
She joined the course after initially doing one year of a graphic design degree at Cardiff University. Using her skills to make textiles for interior design, she hopes to have her own studio and become a recognised textile designer in the future.
The stars aligned to guide Kay-lee to Carmarthen School of Art, beginning with a last minute opportunity to join a coach trip to Wonderwool Wales in 2017. A friend then told her about the course and the rest is now history.
“I had the best time at Wonderwool Wales,” explained Kay-lee, who currently works as a freelance knitter. “It was just so exciting and I remember thinking to myself, this is where I want to be.
“I had been teaching myself hand knitting and crochet, and the show opened my eyes to weaving and how much more there was to do with textiles. It was inspirational to see people doing textiles to such a high level.”
Picture caption: Kay-lee Davies and Jade Carey Holt display their work as they receive their bursaries from Wonderwool Wales directors Chrissie Menzies, Olwen Veevers and Sarah Stacey, watched by BA Textiles programme director at Carmarthen School of Art, Nia Lewis.
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