Kirsty Whitlock graduated in Design Crafts at De Montfort University in 2009, gaining a first class honours degree. Here she established the use of materials and techniques she continues to use in her practice today, as a designer/maker in mixed media textiles.

She is currently based in Leicester, where she has just completed a years Residency at De Montfort University. As Artist in Residence Kirsty was able to continue to develop a new and exciting body of work.

Kirsty aims to push the boundaries of embroidery through the use of materials and application, eager to break the preconceptions of textiles. She wants to embrace the future with works that surprise and inspire.

Artist Statement

Kirsty Whitlock is inspired by polictical cartoons and the way they amuse, inform and educate a social message. She uses recycled and reclaimed materials to challenge Britains 'Throwaway' culture, also taking inspiration from news headlines and documentaries. Her work is concept led responding to the surface qualites of printed materials as well as the subject matter.

Machine embroidery is used to explore imagery, text and current affairs. Embroidery has the power to transform, it enables the meaning of the material to be manipulated and challenged.

Using recongnisable signs and symbols, Kirsty incorporates humour and the overlooked qualites of the materials to produce a collection of conceptual pieces and installations, using the meduim to reflect on consumerism and current affairs.