About

Katharine Swailes artist biography

Cumbrian born Swailes now based in West Sussex, works from the studios of Atelier Weftfaced. Swailes produces wall based handwoven abstract tapestries, a minimal number of techniques and materials are used on these works. She uses traditional materials wool linen cotton and gilt. A woven cotton warp castellated selvedges create the top and bottom of the works, a reference to her past creating costume, from linens cottons. Swailes draws inspiration from the history and process of weaving, particularly antiquity and the pre-columbian America’s. Swailes studied at West Dean College, on a then postgraduate course in tapestry weaving (1998-2000), before working for West Dean Tapestry Studio. Here she worked on prestigious commissions including the Stirling Castle tapestries 2001-2013 as Master Weaver and Designer, along side developing her own practice and exhibiting.

Swailes works are held in National, and private collections in the UK and abroad. Swailes was shortlisted for the Cordis prize in 2016 and 2019, Kate Derum Award, 2019, Theo Moorman Award, recipient 2016

Exhibitions

The Language of Weaving, Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery 2024 - Collect Art Fair with Cavaliero Finn 2024 - Sussex Landscape Chalk Wood Water, Pallant House Gallery Chichester - 2023 -The Five Seasons, Make Hauser & Wirth Somerset - The Internal Landscape, Kevis House for Petworth Festival 2022 - Collect Art Fair with Cavaliero Finn 2022 - CONTINUITIES 2000 Years of Abstract Art Selected by Paul Hughes - Warp Weft Stitch Thread, Arundel - July. 2021 Artefact, London - June 2021 Crafting a Difference, London, 2021
Common Thread, New art centre, Wiltshire 2020 - London Art Fair. London - 2020
 Kate Derum Award, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Melbourne 2019
 - Cordis Tapestry Prize - Inverlieth House Edinburgh 2019 Collect - Saatchi Gallery 2019

All works are for sale please use the contact form to enquire about current availability