Nigel Hurlstone CV
Nigel Hurlstone (b. 1970) studied for a BA in Embroidered Textiles at the former Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University) where he was awarded a first-class honours degree. He then gained a MA (distinction) in textiles and was one of the first graduates to be a awarded a Ph.D with practice by MMU in 2000. He has worked simultaneously as a practitioner, writer and senior lecturer for the past twenty years. Nigel led the BA(Hons) Textiles Embroidery pathway at Glasgow School of Art, established and ran the BA(Hons) Drawing and Applied Arts programme at UWE (Bristol) until 2006 when he became programme leader for the BA(Hons) Embroidery programme at MMU. In 2014, Nigel established a studio in Ffynnongroyw, North Wales in 2012 where he now lives and workes. His practice is concerned with the (re)presentation of the photographic image through embroidered and digital print processes, and examines central themes of masculinity, sexuality and desire in both historical and contemporary contexts.
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Education
1990 - 1991 North Staffordshire Polytechnic: Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (Distinction)
1991 - 1994 Manchester Polytechnic: BA(hons)Fashion/Textiles with chief study in Embroidery (First class)
1994 - 1995 Manchester Metropolitan University: MA Textiles (Distinction)
1996 - 2000 Manchester Metropolitan University: Ph.D.
Awards
2022 Arts Council of Wales Production and Development Grant
2018 Arts Council Wales Research and Development Award
2018 Embroiderers Guild Beryl Dean Award (winner 2018)
2016 Highly commended: 15th International Triennial of Tapestry, Lodz
2023. Two portraits of Vera Brittain and Shirley Williams as part of ’New Art in the Temple of Peace,’ at Hawarden Castle Estate, Flintshire. Commissioned by Charlie Gladstone and the Hawarden Estate.
Commissions
2013 ‘Imagine’, UK commission for ‘Cote Salons’ for ‘L’Auiguille en Fete,’ Paris
2012 Birley Fields- Public Art Commission for development of new campus (MMU), Lead Artist
2009 Baker Tilly Accountants: foyer installation for new headquarters, Spinningfields, Manchester
Relevant Selected Exhibitions
2022 The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour. Renbrandt ‘Portraits Responding to Rembrandt’ Oriel Davies Newtown
2018 11th International Chinese Embroidery Festival, Suzhou Han Art Museum, China
2018 ‘Private Pleasures,’ (solo show) Five Years, Archway, London
2017 ‘Cusp,’ Ruthin Craft Centre, Ruthin, Denbighshire
2017 Royal Glasgow Institute Annual Exhibition, Glasgow
2017 Rijswijk Textile Biennial, Rijswijk, Herenstraat, Netherlands
2016 Welsh representative, 15th International Triennial of Tapestry, Lodz, Poland
2016 ‘Significance,’ Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham, Knit and Stitch (Harrogate and London)
2014 ‘Construct,’ Ruthin Craft Centre, Ruthin, Denbighshire
2014 ‘Scenes of Change,’ L'Auiguille en Fete, Paris
2013 ‘Imagine,’ (solo show) L’Auiguille en Fete, Paris
2013 ‘Men Only,’ (group show with Gavin Fry and James Hunting), L’Auiguille en Fete, Paris
2013 ‘Seamless: The Digital In Design,’ National Museum of Architecture and Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2013 ‘Hand Stitch Perspectives,’ Knit and Stitch, Harrogate, London, Dublin
2012 ‘Pairings II: Conversations & Collaborations,’ Museum in the Park, Stroud & CAA London
2010 ‘Machine Stitch Perspectives,’ Knit and Stitch (Harrogate, London and Dublin)
2000 ‘Gaze II’, (solo exhibition), Cross Street Chapel, City Centre, Manchester
1998 ‘Gaze’ (solo exhibition), Aytoun Gallery, Manchester
1996 ‘The Gallery,’ Cork Street, London
1996 ‘William Morris Revisited: Questioning the Legacy,’ Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, Birmingham
City Museum and Art Gallery
Curated Exhibitions
2014 Scenes of Change,’ L'Auiguille en Fete, Paris
Workshops
2018 ‘Raising the Bar,’ Portfolio Workshops, Ruthin Craft Centre, Ruthin
2017 ‘Raising the Bar,’ Portfolio Workshops, Ruthin Craft Centre, Ruthin
2016 ‘Drawing: Working Across Media,’ Ruthin Craft Centre, Ruthin
2015 ‘Hand Stitch Matters,’ L’Auiguille en Fete, Paris
Published Texts
2018 Hurlstone, N., ‘Stitching Up: Embroidering the sex life of a fetishist image maker,’ in ‘The Erotic Cloth:
Seduction and Fetishism,’ Kettle A., and Millar, L., (Ed.), Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781474281737
2012 Hurlstone, N., ‘Speaking Up for Silence,’ in ‘Hand Stitch Perspectives,’ Kettle, A and McKeating, J.,
(Ed.), Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN 9781408123416
2010 Hurlstone, N., ‘Drawing and the Chimera of Embroidery,’ in ‘Machine Stitch Perspectives,’ Kettle, A.,
and McKeating, J., (Ed.), A and C Black. ISBN 9780713688689
Monographs/reviews/catalogues
2017 Mitchison, L., ‘About Face: The embroidered surfaces of Nigel Hurlstone that hint of powerful
narratives,’ Hall, J., (Ed.), ‘Embroidery, Vol. 68, Nov/Dec 2017
2017 Van der Ploeg, Frank, ‘Nigel Hurlstone: Veiled,’ in ‘Rijswijk Textile Biennale 2017,’ Kloosterboer, A.,
(Ed.), Museum, Rijswijk, 2017
2016 Kettle, A., ‘Manchester Making Matters,’ foreword by Geoffrey Crossick Chair of the Crafts Council
2016 Sterk, Beatrijs, ‘In Review: The 15th International Triennial of Tapestry, Central Museum of Textiles,
Lodz,’ McDade, M., R., (Ed.), ‘Surface Design, Fall 2016
2014 Miller, M., Hill, J., Hughes, P., ‘Construct: eight textile artists explore identity,’ Ruthin Craft Centre,
Ruthin, Denbighshire, 2014.
ISBN 978-1-905865-65-9
2014 https://walesartsreview.org/construct-2
1998 Clymont, F., ‘See the Suffering,’ in ‘City Life,’ No. 354, 29 April- 14 May 1998, pg.43
1998 Clymont, F., ‘New Art,’ in ‘the Pink Paper,’ 3 April, 1998, pg.17
1998 Campbell-Johnstone, R., ‘Around the galleries,’ in ‘The Times,’ 26th April, 1998, pg.37swinden, E., ‘Spat
at…portraits which
provoked storm of protest,’ in ‘Manchester Metro News,’ 15 May, 1998, pg.3
1998 Haile, D., ‘Alarm at Nazi gays art show,’ in ‘Manchester Evening News,’ 17 April, 1998, pg.24
1998 Buller, R., ‘Student fears for show on Nazis’ gay victims,’ in ‘The Guardian,’ 16 April, 1998, pg.13
1998 Haynes, R., ‘Facing the Past,’ in ‘The Big Issue, Arts Section, no. 207, 27th April-3 May 1998, pg.29
Lecturing
2012 - 2021 0.5 Senior Lecturer BA(Hons) Textiles in Practice, MA Textiles and Ph.D. supervision,
Manchester Metropolitan University
2012 Visiting Senior Lecturer, MA Textiles (Mixed Media), Royal College of Art
2005 - 2012 Programme Leader BA(Hons) Embroidery, Manchester Metropolitan University
2004 - 2005 MA by Research Programme Leader, University of the West of England, Bristol
2000 - 2004 Programme Leader BA(Hons) Drawing and Applied Arts, University of the West of England, Bristol
1998 - 2000 Pathway Leader (Embroidery), BA (Hons) Textiles, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow
1997 - 1998 Senior Lecturer BA(Hons) Contemporary Crafts, Manchester Metropolitan University
1996 - 1998 Visiting Lecturer BA(Hons) Textiles, John Moores University, Liverpool
External Examining/Advisory Roles
2018- External Examiner, BA (Hons) Textiles, Sir John Cass, London Metropolitan University
2016- External Examiner, BA (Hons) Textiles, OCA, Farnham
2016 External reviewer and validation panel for BA (Hons) Textiles Practice, Birmingham Metropolitan
University
2015 External reviewer BA (Hons) Interior Design, University of the West of England, Bristol
2009 – 2014 External Examiner, MA Design, MA Fine Art, University of Hertfordshire
2013 Internal reviewer for MA Art and Design suite validation, Manchester Metropolitan University
2013 External Reviewer for re-validation of BA (Hons) textiles, (OPUS School), validated by UCL
2014 External reviewer and validation panel for BA (Hons) Embroidery, Royal College of Needlework,
Hampton Court Palace, London
2012 External reviewer M.RES (Surface Pattern) Manchester University
2004 External reviewer and validation panel for Bar Council Approved Examinations LLB (Hons) and BA
(Hons), UWE, Bristol
2003 External Reviewer for BA Combined Hons in Art and Design, MARJON, Plymouth
Consultancy/Media
2012/13 Specialist expert and consultant for ‘Love Productions’ for the planning and launch of ‘The Great
British Sewing Bee,’ (2013)
2012 Guest interview with Jenny Murray on ‘Woman’s Hour’ BBC Radio 4
Contact Details
info@nigelhurlstone.art