Hotwalls Application 23rd March 2016

Seven years at Hotwalls Studios

At 24 years old I was offered my first studio space at Hotwalls, with no prior experience of running a business, having never sold my work before and having no work to sell. I was made redundant from my job at Monsoon as a retail assistant and received the keys to my studio the next day. Monsoon gifted me their display equipment for me to use in my new studio. I was so excited and honored to have the opportunity to have such an incredible space to start my creative career.

I had a Harris loom and two camping chairs, some yarn left over from my degree and frame looms my dad had made me to run workshops which I had previously ran in Fratton. I didn’t even have a table or a clue what I was doing. The Hotwalls Studios Opening night was the 8th July 2016.

First ever Hotwalls Artist meeting

The first ever Hotwalls Artists were a community of painters, textile artists, paper marbling, screen printing, natural dyes, filmmakers and ceramics. All different ages and abilities coming together. I have made friends for life with these artists with so many collaborations, inspiration and advice.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted my creative business to be, I started running workshops and began weaving. It was so exciting to be surrounded by different artists, next door I had Alex Hagen who did indigo and natural dyeing and James Mouland who did paper marbling.

I finally got a table and chairs from gumtree for £20. I started displaying my work and ran weave workshops.

Hotwalls Artists featured in Portsmouth News 2016

Since 2016 I have taught over 2500 people textile workshops in weaving and knotting in my studio, at festivals and for charities, schools and organisations. I have been awarded a platinum student choice award with craft courses with 175 five star reviews.

It’s been such a joy to teach textiles in my studio, I’ve had people from all over the country, so many lovely conversations and bringing strangers together to create is always magical.

I ran workshops outside my studio in the summer

Polaroid by Oana Damir, Hotwalls Studios 2017

In 2018 I was commissioned to create nine woven wool hangings for allbirds first UK store in Covent Garden, with such a short deadline I had help from my wonderful friend Ami Hyde.

2019 I was awarded my first Arts Council England Grant for my project Interactive weaves, I got to the final 50 for the crafts council Hothouse programme and did a weaving course in Japan.

Weaving nest billboard November 2020-present in Portsmouth

In 2020 I made 500 macrame activity packs for 20 local Portsmouth charities and 10 hours of online workshops with an Arts Council England Grant.

2021 I led project Interactive Weaves involving 21 Hotwalls Studios Artists. Seven woven installations were made outside on the parade ground using local waste materials and over 500 members of the public participated.

Over 900 people attended the Interactive Weaves Exhibition in the Round Tower, almost a person a minute.

Film and Photographs by Alex Fountain

2022 I demonstrated weaving at Chelsea Flower Show, did an artist residency at John Hansard Gallery and was awarded a developing your creative practice grant from Arts Council England.

2023 to present

Sky and Earth an Exhibition with Hollie Thornley and Tomas Arreigotta

Growing flax in Portsmouth, From soil to cloth project and upcoming Exhibition 22nd-24th September 2023 in the Round Tower

the last evening at my studio at Hotwalls July 2023, photograph by Karl Bailey

And new studio space The Weaving Turret