Sue Hiley Harris

Sue Hiley-Harris was born in Brisbane/Australia. She studied at Queensland College of Art in Brisbane, finishing in 1974 with an ADFA. In 1981 she qualified with a Bradford Diploma in Handweaving, and in 1998 gained an Open University BSc(Hons). She has lived in Wales since 1981 and is a member of Fribre.Art.Wales.

Artist's Statement: " It was after I settled in the UK in the mid-1970's, that my interest in weaving began and I learnt first to spin and then to weave. I studied for the Bradford Diploma in Handloom weaving. During this time I became fascinated with silk and soon afterwards began to breed silkworms, research silk fibres and started the silk fibre business as well as weaving exclusively with spun silk yarns. Later in the 1990's I studied biology and chemistry with the Open University. Towards the end of the twentieth century my weaving moved away from the earlier functional pieces: sensuous and responsive three-dimensional structures in linen and hemp emerged. These have since developed in technique and scale. My first really large scale work was exhibited at my solo exhibition in Brecon in 2002. I continue to weave 3-D structures and take pleasure in creating tiny forms as well as large scale work. I greatly appreciate the encouragement and financial support (bursaries in 1999 and 2001) I have received from the Arts Council of Wales in the development of my work".

The Welsh landscape has made an indelible impression on Sue and she writes that the sparseness and tranquility of the Black Mountains in South-Eastern Wales pervade and nourish her work: " I try to capture this sense of continuity, stability and peace; and I hope that I create work that will encourage contemplation as well as intrigue and fascinate".

Awards: 1999 Arts Council of Wales bursary for large woven sculpture; 2001 Arts Council of Wales Time-Out bursary for large woven sculpture; 2002 interrace grant from Wales Arts International; 2004 Wales Arts International grant for solo exhibitio in Australia.

International Links:
activities abroad=1974 studying at Queensland College of Art Bribane/Australia; lecture and workshop tours (silk, silk spinning and weaving) in Australia and US.

exhibitions abroad=in Austria (1998/2000) & in 2001 the Roman Textile exhibition in Carrnuntum; France (1999/2002/2004); Italy (2000/2002/2004); Poland & Japan (2001) e.g. the World Competition of Arts and Crafts in Kanazawa; Ireland (2003), & the 4th Triennial of Textile Arts in Bucharest/Romania; Australia (2004) i.e. Woven Structures, Ararat Gallery, Victoria; Italy & Switzerland (2005) as well as the Seventh Internatinal Triennial of Mini -Textiles in Angers/France.

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