Isobel Bowman
Textiles
A Textile Designer specialising in Print, with a love for exploring the benefits of the natural world through both hand crafted and digital processes to create versatile bespoke pieces.
Final year project
The Great Outdoors
Boxing Hares
In Snowdonia, the Brown Hare is a threatened species due to agricultural intensification, localised impacts through hunting and a change from cropping to silage. The print encompasses the textures found in the species' favourable habitats, alongside the hares’ movements during mating. A 2 layer screenprint with hand painting on Monkswool.
Welsh Wool
The collection is solely made from wool to help draw attention to the current crisis of the Welsh wool sector which use to contain a network of 217 mills, but this has now fallen to just 8. Due to this, I was unable to source my fabrics directly from Snowdonia, the Welsh Wool wrap is hand-knitted using handspun yarn sourced in Snowdonia. Dip-dyed in lime for a contemporary feel, drawing attention to the beautiful quality of Welsh Wool.
Hand Processes
Hand painting into my 2 layer screen print ‘Boxing Hares’ using dye solutions to achieve a more bespoke look.
A Series of Steps
The Park has a lot to offer people both mentally and physically, inspired by the vast walking and hiking trails I created a print by plotting all current routes the Ordnance Survey Map outlines. In order to create a piece that reveals the opportunities the Park has to offer and the beauty of movement.
Rocky Traverse
Inspired by looking in-depth at the primary photography of Tryfan, zooming into the many textures found in just one snapshot of a section of the mountain. Revealing the vast amounts of beauty and texture in a large scale piece that captures some of the essences of the park. A 3 layer hand-painted length on Wool Delaine.
Development
A Snippet of development - including drawing, fabric samples and colour.
Visualisations
Digitally drawn Visualisations of some of my final collection pieces. All are visualised as wraps in order to support an adaptable and versatile transeasonal collection.
Motion Flora
Using prevalent flora throughout Snowdonia such as common gorse, mosses and lichens, I created textural mark-making in order to develop this 2 layer screenprint on donated fabric.
Isobel Bowman
Final year project
The Great Outdoors
Awards
Diploma in Professional Studies.
Work Experience
NBrown. Sept 2020 - Present (June 2022)
I worked as a Print Design intern for NBrown throughout my placement year, as I felt a 12-month placement would be most beneficial for my personal and professional growth. The company is home to several brands, including SimplyBe, JDWilliams and Home Essentials. This allowed me to grow as a versatile and adaptable designer, as I had the chance to work across a number of markets. Being with the company for a longer period meant that I had the opportunity to undertake many roles throughout the design process as I progressed. From producing trend and print research reports, developing prints and assessing the final products. I was lucky enough to be offered a role with the company part-time while I carried out my final year at University.