Biography

My creative practice is my life. It intertwines with my friends, family, home, garden, and travels...

For an artist practicing in any media the starting points are the same; looking, selecting and interpreting using the love and medium of drawing, which was instilled in me from a young age. The confidence that I had in the ability to be an individual was encouraged along the way.

Enlightenment came when I was 14. The most influential person in the development of my art philosophies and standards was my wonderful secondary school teacher Anwar Shemza. An artist in his own right, he made me understand how cloth and stitch was another justifiable media to follow through my ideas. My response to a borrowed small DMC embroidery book became so much more tangible as I became aware that I could formally study embroidery and put together my love of art and needlework.

There are many phrases that Anwar said along the way. ‘You are only as good as your next piece of work’ was one of them; as well as the fact that a piece of work takes more than the time you spend making it…. it also reflects a lifetime of experience.

I am still learning, challenging and I am never satisfied. This drives me forward to my next piece. Creativity is my life.

https://www.textileartist.org/amanda-j-clayton-intimacy-hand-stitching

Selected Exhibitions

2016 'Made in the Middle' 30 years online exhibition.
http://madeinthemiddle.org/
2015 'the other' Knitting and Stitching show (2 man. touring)
'meticulous stitch' , Unit Twelve Gallery www.unittwelve.co.uk
2013 ‘Japanese Connections’, Knitting & Stitching Show
2012 ‘62@50’ Holden Gallery, Manchester (62 Group)
‘Space’ Kyoto Museum of Art, Japan
2011 ‘(off) white’ Christmas Exhibition at Unit Twelve, Staffordshire.
2010 ‘Bending more Lines II’ Collins Gallery, Glasgow.(62 Group) ‘Bending more lines’ Rijswijk Museum, Holland.(62 Group)
2009 ‘Imperfect Perfect’, Yarlet Gallery
2008/9 ‘Creative Dialogues’, Bankfield Museum, Halifax & touring
2002 ‘Textiles in Context’ The Victoria & Albert Museum. (62 Group)
2001 ‘Space Odyssey’ Touring Exhibition-London, Dublin, Harrogate
(by invitation of ‘The Knitting and Stitching Show’ – 2 man show)

Awards

‘Creative Ambitions Award’- West Midlands Arts
Lace Guild Bursary
Lynette de Denne Memorial Award – The Embroiderers’ Guild
Major award at ‘Texprint’ with ‘The Design Council’
George Jackson Travel award – City of B.ham Polytechnic

An invited member of ‘The 62 Group’ since 1991-2012
A national and international exhibiting textile group.

Member of ‘The Textile Study Group’ from 1988 - 2006
A national group formed from teachers and affiliated to ‘The Embroiderers’ Guild’

An art consultant for the BBC for the making of a recent Art and Design Educational film for their Learning Zone
and featured Bitesize textile artist.

Training

2005-07 PGCE – Post Compulsory Education, Staffs University (p/t)
1979-82 Bachelor of Arts, Textiles/Fashion
Chief Study – Embroidery (First Class Hons.)
City of Birmingham Polytechnic
1978-79 Foundation Art Course
Wolverhampton Polytechnic