Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2016 | Page 62

Arts & Crafts

SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL ARTIST

Angela Sowden
An Island-born textile designer who worked in London for some of the big
fashion houses has returned to her roots – and now combines commercial
print design with painting: anything from pets and flowers to panto scenery
Angela has been a professional textile designer since
graduating from Chelsea College of Art in 1996,
working in a London Studio for the first 10 years and
freelancing from home since 2006. She returned to
the Isle of Wight in 2011 to re-settle on the lovely
Island where she was born & spent her childhood.
Inspired by the beautiful countryside and coastline
that she loves and by a thriving artistic community,
she is now able to explore more fine art, drawing
and printmaking which she says is simply fantastic.
Plus, it’s a welcome diversion from the commercial
textiles day job.
“A consequence of being a print designer for fashion
textiles is that you are encouraged to be a master
of as many styles as you can, indeed it is a benefit
to become as versatile as possible. This enables you
to compete in the ever changing and competitive
fashion industry. While this is great for the
commercial churn of designing, it very rarely allows
you to explore and develop your own style.”
So that is what Angela is aiming at. Finding
something that she enjoys and can explore when
not designing print. Mono prints have captured
her attention (for now!) and her love of fine line,
free drawing and texture combined with it’s
unpredictability give it a life of its own at times. “I love
all areas of printmaking because there is so much to

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learn and experiment with!”
Angela also enjoys animal por traiture when there is
time, both traditional and the more quirky…whether it
is a detailed representation of a beloved pet or simply
a fleeting scribble or doodle! “Capturing an animals
character is the ultimate goal and because tight,
well painted florals are generally what I am asked
for commercially, the freedom and loose nature of
the current mono print work is the perfect antidote.”
Angela is also not adverse to the odd bit of large
scale painting either, (when time permits!). The last
few years have seen her paint large scale pantomime
scenery for Shorwell Drama Club and The Wight
Strollers.
If you have any questions
please don’t hesitate to
contact her.
Telephone: [phone]
Email: info@angelasowden.
co.uk

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