Avril C Clark

Qualifications Diploma in Art and Design (Textile Design) 1976
Certificate of Education from Jordanhill College 1977
Interests Textile Arts, Photography, and Painting.

I was born and educated in Glasgow. In 1976 I qualified from Glasgow School of Art in Textile Design. The following year I gained a Certificate in Education from Jordanhill College. Since moving to Moray in 1978 I have been involved in both Secondary and Primary sectors of Education, teaching Art and Design. This has allowed me to develop my teaching and organisational skills, as well as the opportunity to pursue my interests in the Textile Arts. I have regularly taken evening classes in Fabric Crafts for adults at a number of secondary schools in Moray.
Further to this I was the Chairperson of the Highland Textile Guild from 1985 until 1988, which involved organising and contributing to a variety of Textile Exhibitions and Workshops in Inverness. Following on from this, in 1988, I formed the Speyside Quilters group who is based in Fochabers and meets fortnightly. Presently we have a membership of 30 adults who both provide and attend various Creative Textile Workshops. The group also holds regular Textile Exhibitions and in the past I have provided the direction for two wall hangings that had been commissioned by The Hospital Arts Trust for Dr Grays Hospital in Elgin.
In my own time I have attended various Textile Workshops including Fabric dyeing, Weaving, Machine Embroidery and Knitting and the use of Paper with Fabrics. I have led workshops on Designing waistcoats, Banner making, Colour Basics and various other Patchwork Techniques.
In 1996/97 I was part of the "Speyfest" committee and helped to run the very successful Visual Arts and Crafts marquee in Fochabers. This is a festival of Traditional Music, Arts and Crafts.
In 1997 I started my own Textile business, where I teach classes in Patchwork/Quilting, Embroidery and Art. I also work to commission and make "one off" and limited edition textiles. My most recent commission being a double size quilt.
In recent years I have exhibited with Speyside Quilters in Fochabers, Highland Quilters, Inverness, The Warehouse, Banff, The National Patchwork Championships, in Ascot and Perth, Just Art in Fochabers, sixStitch in Inverness and Peebles, Moray Art & Design Teachers in Elgin, The Moray Arts Elgin and "Off the Wall" at Delta Studios, Larbet.