I studied at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a double major in Textiles and Fashion in 2012.
After completing a design internship in Guatemala and running a textile studio and shop in Canada for a couple of years, I returned to school and graduated from the MA Textile Design programme at the Winchester School of Art, specialising in printed textiles.
I now call Winchester home, where I run a small design studio called O What A Feeling: Textile & Paper Goods Co. at Yard Studios.
After completing a design internship in Guatemala and running a textile studio and shop in Canada for a couple of years, I returned to school and graduated from the MA Textile Design programme at the Winchester School of Art, specialising in printed textiles.
I now call Winchester home, where I run a small design studio called O What A Feeling: Textile & Paper Goods Co. at Yard Studios.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Gillian Lake-Thompson
The Yard Studios
Matley's Yard, Wharf Hill
Winchester
SO23 9NQ
The Yard Studios
Matley's Yard, Wharf Hill
Winchester
SO23 9NQ
LANGUAGES
EDUCATION
2014
Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, Winchester, UK
MA (Distinction) Textile Design, specialising in printed textiles & sustainable design.
2012
Jabel Tinamit Spanish School, Panajachel, Guatemala
Enrolled in Spanish language lessons from January to May 2012.
2008-2011
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textile and Fashion Design, Graduation December 2011.
High honours, equivalent to UK First Class Honours degree.
2011
Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Successfully completed TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Certificate
2008
Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Participant in Curatorial Workshop led by Enrique Ferreol of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
2001-2006
Dalbrae Academy, Mabou, Nova Scotia
High School Diploma
Honour roll student, ranked in top 10 of graduating class
1993-2005
Royal Conservatory of Music, Mabou, Nova Scotia
Weekly piano lessons; Completed practical and musical theory exams.
COMPUTER SKILLS
TEXTILE AND FASHION-RELATED SKILLS
AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2013
Awarded entrance scholarship to Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, Winchester, UK.
2012
2011
2010
2009 & 2010
2008
2007
2006 & 2007
2006
2005
2004
EXHIBITIONS
2014
MA Textile Design Interim Exhibition, Winchester School of Art, Winchester, UK
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
July 2008
2006
2001
EXTRA-CURRICULAR & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
2003 - 2013
EMPLOYMENT & WORK EXPERIENCE
November 2015 - Present
- English (Fluent)
- French (Fluent)
- Spanish (Conversational)
EDUCATION
2014
Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, Winchester, UK
MA (Distinction) Textile Design, specialising in printed textiles & sustainable design.
2012
Jabel Tinamit Spanish School, Panajachel, Guatemala
Enrolled in Spanish language lessons from January to May 2012.
2008-2011
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textile and Fashion Design, Graduation December 2011.
High honours, equivalent to UK First Class Honours degree.
2011
Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Successfully completed TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Certificate
2008
Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Participant in Curatorial Workshop led by Enrique Ferreol of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
2001-2006
Dalbrae Academy, Mabou, Nova Scotia
High School Diploma
Honour roll student, ranked in top 10 of graduating class
1993-2005
Royal Conservatory of Music, Mabou, Nova Scotia
Weekly piano lessons; Completed practical and musical theory exams.
COMPUTER SKILLS
- Comfortable with both Windows and Apple platforms.
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program, open-source raster graphics editor software)
- Inkscape (open source drawing tool that uses scalable vector graphics format)
- DraWings (Digital Embroidery Software)
- PointCarre (Jacquard weaving software)
TEXTILE AND FASHION-RELATED SKILLS
- Garment design - using both drafting and draping techniques
- Machine knitting - domestic machinery
- Handweaving - handloom, tapestry and dobby looms
- Embroidery – both hand-embroidery and digital machine-embroidery
- Handknitting and basic crochet
- Handspinning – using both spinning wheels and drop-spindles.
- Fibre Dyeing – both cellulose and protein fibres, using synthetic and natural dyes, resist dye techniques
- Screenprinting – using stencils, open screen-work, and emulsified screens with both dyes and pigments (synthetic and natural dyes).
- Block printing and direct application
- Wet-felting and needle-felting – production of both flat at 3-dimensional forms
- Machine-Lace making, using water-soluble
- Polyester heat-setting
- Repeat pattern Design – using both manual techniques as well as software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for use in screenprinting, digital printing, laser cutting, digital embroidery and jacquard weaving.
AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2013
Awarded entrance scholarship to Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, Winchester, UK.
2012
- Oxlajuj B’atz’ (Thirteen Threads), Panajachel, Guatemala. Successfully completed textile internship in Guatemala with Oxlajuj B’atz', a non-profit indigenous women’s empowerment and education organization.
2011
- Sponsored by NSCAD University Textile Department to attend “Fibre and Natural Dye Symposium,” in Port Williams, Nova Scotia.
2010
- Awarded David Murphy Bursary, NSCAD University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2009 & 2010
- Awarded Margo and Rowland Marshall Award for Textiles, NSCAD University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2008
- Winner of New Spinner Scholarship for Maritime Handspinners Retreat
2007
- Handwoven & Handknit textiles juried and accepted by Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, Sydney, Nova Scotia
2006 & 2007
- President's List Recipient, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia
2006
- Canadian 4-H Council Scholarship recipient
2005
- Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Shad Valley summer placement awarded. Attended month-long program, focusing on science, technology and entrepreneurship
2004
- Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness, Nova Scotia. Line of original textiles and jewelry juried and accepted
EXHIBITIONS
2014
MA Textile Design Interim Exhibition, Winchester School of Art, Winchester, UK
2013
- ProletariART, Cape Breton University Art Gallery, Sydney, Nova Scotia
- Under 30, Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness, Nova Scotia
2012
- Rosalie’s Belt, Scotsville School of Crafts, Scotsville, Nova Scotia
- Every Island Has a Story, Ours is Handmade, Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, Sydney, Nova Scotia
2011
- Textile Festival, Inverness County Centre for the Art, Inverness, Nova Scotia
- NSCAD Wearable Art Show, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2010
- NSCAD University Annual Wearable Art Show, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Hatch Spring Fashion Show, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Hands Dancing, Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness, Nova Scotia
- Textile Show and Sale, Seeds Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Intermediate Fashion Show, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2009
- Nocturne: Art at Night, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Textile Show and Sale, Seeds Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Hands Dancing, Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness, Nova Scotia
July 2008
- Hands Dancing, Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness, Nova Scotia.
2006
- In Your Face, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario.
2001
- The Hundred Year Old Trousseau, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Travelling)
EXTRA-CURRICULAR & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
2003 - 2013
- Scotsville School of Crafts, Scotsville, Nova Scotia. Member of the Lake Ainslie Weavers and Craft Guild. Helping plan events, writing grant proposals, advertising, decorating and cleanup.
- Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Volunteering with TESL Centre – tutoring international students in conversational English.
- Scotsville School of Crafts, Scotville Nova Scotia. Participant in International Back-to-Back Wool Challenge; competition involved teams around the world competing to shear a sheep, spin the wool and knit a sweater in one day. Fundraiser for Inverness County Palliative Care Society, as well as demonstrating traditional textile crafts to the public.
- Scotsville School of Crafts, Scotsville, Nova Scotia. Taught workshop in dyeing for handweaving, colour theory, and dye safety
- Seniors’ Games, Inverness, Nova Scotia. Demonstrated handspinning and weaving techniques to the public
- Inverness, Nova Scotia. Member of Inverness County Spinthrifts handspinning and knitting group.
- Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, St. Ann’s, Nova Scotia. Participant in 8th Annual Maritime Handspinners’ Retreat
EMPLOYMENT & WORK EXPERIENCE
November 2015 - Present
- Fashion & textile technician & sessional lecturer in printed textiles & CAD at Basingstoke College of Technology, Basingstoke, UK.
- Student Support Worker at University of Winchester, Winchester, UK.
- Founder & designer at O What A Feeling: Textile & Paper Goods Co., Winchester, UK.
- Purchasing assistant at Designers Guild, Ltd., London.
- Textile design intern at Zandra Rhodes Enterprises Ltd., London.
- Textile design intern at Mirjam Rouden Design Studio, London.
- Freelance textile designer, specialising in printed textiles for the fashion, interiors and stationery market. London and Winchester, UK.
- Oxlajuj B’atz’ (Thirteen Threads), Panajachel, Guatemala. Successfully completed textile internship in Guatemala with Oxlajuj B’atz, a non-profit indigenous women’s empowerment and education organization. Responsibilities included developing and photographing products, designing a catalogue, working in the fair-trade store, teaching workshops on colour theory, product design and craft skills, and writing newsletter articles. January to May, 2012
- Designer & proprietor of Bellemeade, Mabou, Canada. Responsibilities included product design, visual merchandising, updating website and social media accounts, ordering merchandise, customer service, accounting.
“Art is man’s expression of his joy in labour.” – William Morris, 1883
“People who don’t work with their hands are parasites.” Jenny Holzer, 1977
“People who don’t work with their hands are parasites.” Jenny Holzer, 1977
