Within her practice Robyn focuses on the themes of heritage, identity and locality, with Yorkshire’s historical textile industry and its preservation acting as her main inspiration. She explores this history in a contemporary context through her family’s links to Keighley and Bradford, along with the everyday objects and brands around her that have shaped the aesthetic decisions in her work. A large element of Robyn's practice also focuses on the importance of skill sharing and nurturing confidence to enable individuals to take up a textile based skill that will positively impact on their mental health. Although simplistic in its intention, Robyn aims for her work to be accessible to those, such as her family, who have not had access to an arts education.
b. 1995 | Based in West Yorkshire
Available for freelance projects, please contact: nicholrobyn@yahoo.co.uk / @robynnichol
EDUCATION
2014-2017 | Lancaster University | BA Fine Art
2013-2014 | Leeds Arts University | Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
COMMISSIONED WORK
2021, May | Beer mat design | Weird Euros x adidas Football Collective
2021, February | Micro mural design | Bradford 2025: City of Culture Bid
2020, January | Embroidery pattern design | DMC
2019, November | Social media collaboration | Lazy Oaf
WORKSHOPS/TALKS
2021, September | Archive embroidery workshop series | South Square Centre, Bradford
2021, April | Embroidery workshop series and activity pack for The FOLD | Online
2021, March | Visiting artist talk | Leeds City College, Online
2020, November and 2021, January | Archive embroidery workshop series | South Square Centre, Online
2020, February | Career workshop with Graft & Up North Arts | The Gregson Centre, Lancaster
2018, May | Embroidery workshop with Graft | St Nicholas Arcade, Lancaster
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022, March | K Town Shopper Arts Trail | Keighley, Bradford
2021, March | Saying Something/Something To Be Said | The Margate School, Kent
2020, February | GRAFT x Up North Arts | Kanteena, Lancaster
2019, November | This Way Up | The Wrong Biennale, Online
2019, October | Banner Culture | British Textile Biennial, Brierfield Mill
2019, July | 50 miles, 100 voices, 200 years | People's History Museum, Manchester
2019, May | guiltee pleasures | oh kay gall, York
2018, November | Where Are You In These Interesting Times? | AIR Gallery, Altrincham
2018, May | Hard Graft | St Nicholas Arcade, Lancaster
2018, March | Ones to Watch | Sunny Bank Mills, Leeds
2017, November | An Exchange of Sorts | Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
2017, July | In Visible Lines | Scaffold Gallery, New Art Spaces, Bolton
2017, June | is this real lyf?? | Commercial Union House, Newcastle
2017, May | Aftertaste | The Trophy Room, Liverpool
FEATURES
ONLINE
2022, February | The Independent | Artist celebrates Yorkshire identity with stitch tribute to favourite chippy | Lottie Kilraine
2021, June | Dezeen | Designers celebrate iconic football moments on Weird Euros beer mats | Amy Frearson
2021, April | Creative Lives in Progress | Interview with Marianne Hanoun
2021, February | Young Artists In Conversation | Interview with Pippa Eason
2021, January | Sister Magazine | The Artists Redefining the North Through Textiles | Laura Molloy
2020, November | People of Print | Interview with Robyn Pitts
2020, June | Artists and Friends | Podcast Interview
2020, April | Refinery29 | Anything but Twee | Sadhbh O'Sullivan
2019, September | It's Nice That | Interview with Jyni Ong
2017, June | Art in Liverpool | Review of Aftertaste | Devon Forrester-Jones
RADIO & PRINT
2022, March | The Keighley News | Weekend event to showcase talents | Alistair Shand
2022, February | BBC Radio Leeds Breakfast Show | Interview with Richard Stead (& Online)
2022, February | The Yorkshire Post | Nar then...
2020, May | Still Lives | Issue 1
2018, May | FILLER | Comfort
2017, July | Longing for Home | Issue 1
PRIZES
2019, May | Open Contemporary Young Artist Award | The Biscuit Factory | Shortlisted
2017, November | Graduate Art Prize | Artiq | Shortlisted
2017, June | Dean's Prize for Fine Art | Lancaster University | Winner