Gillian Royal - Crafts Council Hothouse Scheme

Gillian Royal, a textile maker who creates fine felt vessels, has been awarded a place on the first Crafts Council Collective ‘Hothouse’ scheme. The programme provides emerging makers with focused, intensive business skills and creative development, complimented with 1:1 mentoring from established makers and professional coaches. The programme is aimed at emerging makers who intend for their practice to be a long term main occupation and who show promise and the ability to become successful in the crafts sector.

Gillian’s seamless felt vessels are hand crafted from luxury natural fibres, including merino wool, and are often embellished with embroidery. Smooth, fine and light weight, they are available in a range of styles, combining colour, pattern and texture, making them ideal for contemporary interiors.



Gillian won the attention of the Hothouse selection panel due to the quality of her work and the passion and commitment she showed about her practice. The panel were impressed with Gillian’s advanced manipulation of felt to create self supporting textile structures, showing a high level of control and finish with her medium.

The first ‘Hothouse’ pilot scheme is delivered by the Crafts Council in partnership with the University of Creative Arts, the Crafts Study Centre, Farnham Maltings and the New Ashgate Gallery, all based in Farnham, Surrey. During the summer and autumn of 2010, Gillian will develop her practice, with the help of the partners and mentors, and will exhibit her work at the New Ashgate Gallery from 9th - 23rd October 2010, along with nine other emerging makers selected for Hothouse.

Gillian will also be showing her work at MADE10 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair MADE10 - from 19th - 21st November.