Cherry Hurren

Vote for my John Lewis Design

2011-09-02T13:56:00.001-07:00

Vote for my John Lewis Design, talenthouse competition. I designed a case for an iPhone and iPad to be sold in John Lewis.

My idea is ‘Trend Girls’, illustrations of the big fashion trends of autumn winter 2011/2012. The Illustrations are black fine line pen. I have created the marble ink paint backgrounds, using the key colours of autumn winter.

My idea focuses on the case designs combined with an app. To have an app developed called John Lewis Fashion Trends for the I phone and I pad. The app would show each illustration and trend description. To go with each trend there would be product shots of suggested key pieces from John Lewis. The items could then be touched on, which would be linked up to the website to buy online.

The case designs and app, would appeal to a younger generation of customers who are enjoy fashion and technology.

Illustrations from left to right:

I phone
Spotty Service - Topshop Unique

I pad
Psychedelic Furs - The Row
Collage Studies - Mary Katrantzou
Colour Forms – Chloe
Tux Love - Chanel
Spotty Service - Paul Smith

To vote for my entry, and leave a comment, click through to the page here: http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/preview/a4aa6e6c024fe97f75440bed2183d650/242

A/W Illustrations

2011-08-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

Colour Forms - Chloe

Psychedelic Furs - The Row

Tux Love - Chanel

Spotty Service - Topshop Unique

Collage Studies - Mary Katrantzou

Collage Studies - Comme Des Garcons

Spotty Service - Paul Smith

Collage Studies - Suno

I have produced new fashion illustrations for A/W 2011/2012 trends. I created these new illustrations using marble ink paint for the backgrounds. I chose the colour palletes to reflect the colours in each particular outfit. I used black fine line pens and black marker pens for the drawings.

Regents Park, London Zoo and London Film Museum

2011-08-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Regents Park

London Film Museum Mystical Unicorn Prop

UFOS Props

Willy Wonka prop to buy

Mr Bean and Ali G Costumes

Tweed Suit

Synthetic Nineties Tracksuit

London Zoo

Poisionous Yellow Frog

Touch the Jellyfish

Piranha

I went to a few places in a day out with my family. We walked through regents park to go to London Zoo. There were some beautiful buildings surrounding the park, of the regency style hence Regents Park. White and grand architecture. It is a nice change to go to attractions that aren't always art related.

We also went to the London film museum, in county hall, in the same building as the aquarium on the south bank. Mostly the exhibits were either Harry Potter or Star Wars, there were some pieces of interest to me. There was numerous costumes and props displayed. My favourites were a original Mr Bean suit and Ali G orange tracksuit. The tweed suit was quite slim fitting. There was also props of mystical creatures, two headed wolves and unicorns.

Worst Fashion

2011-08-15T05:24:00.000-07:00

Platforms

Bumbags

Legwarmers

Man Handbag

Bow Tie

Transparent

Afghan Coats

Big Collars

Knitted Waistcoats

Tracksuits

Safari Suit

Jumpsuit

Checked Trousers

Flares

I am currently reading the book worst fashion, what we shouldn't have worn... but did. The pieces that stood out the most to me as shocking were:

Womens
- Too Hot to Handle - Hot Pants - A Shaggy Story - Afghan Coat - Legwarmers - Bumbags - Platforms

Mens
- Flares - Out of Africa - The Safari Suit - Knitted belted waistcoats - Don't Get Shirty - Patterned Shirts - Hot Under the Collar - Big Collars - Handbags

Both!
- Tank Tops - Tracksuits - Transparent Clothing - Matching Clothing

London Riots

2011-08-09T04:37:00.000-07:00

Boris Johnson

2012 Preperation

All Sorts

Waiting My Turn

MISSING

Shame Face

Crookies

Hoxton Beach

I Wear the Trousers Posh Boy

Downing Loot

I watched avidly the london riots, on BBC and Sky news. Seeing many areas of london I know, going up in flames. I produced a new drawing of Boris Johnson on the tuesday afternoon, after the worst night of rioting. In clapham junction brandshing a broom, a symbol of cleaning up london. Also a choice few of some of my favourite funny photos from the popular photoshop looter blog.

I do not agree with the violence, however I am being let down by the current government. There are not enough jobs/opportunities and housing for young people. There are many people who have studied hard, in debt from university of near thirty grand, and there are no jobs to aim towards. Cameron blames the culture of society, he needs to take responsbility. By investing not making cuts to young people. He cut the future jobs fund, cuts to the arts etc. He is cutting people's ambitions, he wants a big society of free workers, so that he can use the money to go on hoilday.

Goldsmiths

2011-08-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

I will soon be starting studies at Goldsmiths college in teacher training. I will be studying to become a design and technology specialized in textiles teacher. Goldsmiths is famous for many creatives who have studied here including, Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst, Mary Quant, Bridget Riley and Malcolm McLaren. Hopefully i will be following in the same footsteps.

Summer Photography

2011-08-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

Smoke Clouds

Bowling

Sweets

Diet

Suicide Area

Lighthouse

Track Marks

Pirate Boat

Seagull

Gliding

Library

Secret Beach

Teacups

End

Girls Bedroom

Over the summer months I have been doing some photography. Around England, locations include London, Sussex, Yorkshire and Cornwall. The photographs are of typical british scenes, places and activites.

Compulsive, Obsessive, Repetitive

2011-07-25T03:23:00.000-07:00

Towner Art Gallery Eastbourne

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Claire Morgan

'Till Rolls' - 10,000 Till Rolls - Jill Townsley

Giant Sugar Cube Installation - Brendan Jamison

I went to the Towner art gallery in Eastbourne for inspiration. I visited the new exhibiition, Compulsive, Obsessive, Repetitive. This is a group show of sculptors who obsessively use small scale repetitive processes to create large scale installations.

The exhibition comprises five new commissions by:

Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva
Brendan Jamison
Susie MacMurray
Jill Townsley
Henry Seaton (Rex Henry and Graham Seaton)

It also features an earlier work by Claire Morgan.

These artists are motivated by the need to compulsively repeat an action – in a labour intensive and painstaking way - to create a large scale installation composed of multiple elements.

From MacMurray’s sculptural drawing made from corrugated hose to Hadzi-Vasileva’s wall of salmon skins, individual elements are transformed through repetition into something more than the sum of its parts.

My favourite pieces were the sugar cubes and the till roles. There was a castle tower made out of sugar cubes by the artist Brendan Jamison. The city landscape piece, made out of till roles pulled out to different levels. Exposing the pink stripe of the end of the rolls, made by the artist Jill Townsley. It is a free exhibition, on 2nd July til 18th September 2011.

The Paper Bandit

2011-07-23T03:06:00.000-07:00

When I went to the New Blood exhibition, we also went along to a book crit event held by Mother advertising agency at the Rag Factory. Whilst there, I looked around their show, the work of Victoria Ulkrikke Iles stood out to me. Her work was illustration and collage. The imagery has a haunted feeling, with dark undertones. Manipulated black and white photographs, to give new meaning to the subjects. Her website is: www.thepaperbandit.com

Autumn Winter Trends 2011 - 2012

2011-07-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

Collage Studies - Comme Des Garcons

Collage Studies - Mary Katrantzou

Collage Studies - Suno

Colour Forms - Pedro Lourenco

Colour Forms - Chloe

Parka City - D&G

Parka City - Jean Paul Gaultier

Psychedelic Furs - Marni

Psychedelic Furs - Sonia Rykiel

Psychedelic Furs - The Row

Sixties Minutes - Burberry Prorsum

Sixties Minutes - Bottenga Veneta

Spotty Service - Paul Smith

Spotty Service - Topshop Unique

Tux Love - Chanel

Tux Love - L'Wren Scott

Summer will soon be over, and I will be taking inspiration from fashion week's best pieces. The big trends for autumn winter 2011 - 2012 are:

- Collage Studies
Collaged colour, pattern and texture, more is more.

- Colour Forms
Bright, blocked, electric colour.

- Parka City
Brutal winter, evening, coat.

- Psychedelic Furs
Rainbow, vibrant dye, fur.

- Sixties Minutes
Bouffant hairdos, swinging London, tights.

- Spotty Service
Polka, sequin like, dots.

- Tux Love
Le smoking, tuxedo, black and white.

Birthday Books

2011-07-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

Hologram Front Cover, McQueen Face

Hologram Front Cover, Skull

Fierce Skelton Heels

Mussels Hardwear Top

Candyfloss Hair

Horse Hair

I have just had my 23rd birthday, amongst my presents I was given some new art books.

- How to start a fashion label, as my ambition is to start my own business.

- William Morris, and the Arts and Craft Home Book. I enjoy looking at the textile prints of this movement. I see quite a lot of Morris's work at the V&A, such as the beautiful Morris restaurant room.

- Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty, The front cover is a holgram of his face and a skull. Symbolic of his use of skulls in his design work and his own dimise. This book was shortly released after McQueens recent death. It is a beautiful book, containing photography of his stand out pieces. A real tribute to his hard work, there are many impressive images.

- Hair em Scare Them, from the publisher Die Gestalten Verlag. A book focusing on imagery on the theme hair, in a mix of media.

Mark and Steven - Website

2011-07-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

Website

About them - Humorous Interview

Waterstones Advertising Campaign

Love Film Interactive Advertising Campaign

Give Blood Advertising Campaign

Steven has nearly finished his masters in creative advertising. He has teamed with Mark Wilson, they are working as a creative team as art director/copywriter. They are soon to be working on placement at Oglivy advertising agency in Canary Wharf.

They have a sophiscated designed website, alongside twitter. Their website shows their current portfolio of work. Visit their website at: www.markandsteven.co.uk

Mark and Steven - Shelf Awards

2011-07-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Steven and Mark and their Shelf Award

Steven and Mark entered the Shelf Awards, which is a advertising competition. The Shelf Awards apart from actually being a very special piece of wood The Shelf is an annual event aimed at helping the best young graduates get a foot in the door of the creative industry. It’s tough out there and trying to get your work seen by the top names in your chosen profession is even tougher. Particularly when you’ve just graduated from university…

That’s where The Shelf comes in. This annual event, now in its 11th year, connects the best creative graduates in the UK with leading art directors, copywriters, creative directors and recruiters. The graduates get an invaluable opportunity to network and showcase their work to industry experts while said experts get a chance to nab the freshest young talent around (and we mean that in the nicest possible way, obviously.) It’s a win-win situation. Especially as all guests get to judge and score the work on show.

The Shelf was started in 2001 by Gary Sharpen and although it’s undoubtedly a fun, friendly and informal event, the end result couldn’t be more serious. To date, over 120 students have benefitted from participating in The Shelf, either through making excellent contacts, securing work placements or, ultimately, gaining full-time employment.

It was held at The IPA, Belgrave Square, London. It was a great networking opportunity for them. All the entrants had to wear vote for me on the back of their t-shirts. Steven and Mark, had a sheet on top of their table for people to write comments about their work.

Steven and Mark came second place, winning a B&Q shelf to put all their future awards on.

Mark and Steven - D&AD New Blood Exhibtion

2011-07-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

Trumans Brewery

Steven at his Course Stand

Steven and Marks Work

Give Blood Portfolio Work

Portfolio Table

Illustration Wall

Tea Party Collage Illustrations

Megan Louise Fashion Illustration

Crayon Typography

Fashion Branded Loo Rolls

Body Shop Adverts

I visited the D&AD new blood exhibtion in the Trumans Brewery. To see my boyfriend Steven's work, from his recent studies. On the Creative Advertising masters course based at Falmouth University in Cornwall.

There were talks, workshops and other activites going on alongside the exhibition. There was a illustration wall, that people were adding to during each day of the show. People were putting a lot of effort into their drawings.

There was some interesting work on show, from other universities. Beautiful fashion illustration from Megan Louise of Plymouth university. I particularly liked the fashion branded toilet paper, Chanel to put in the bathroom very chic.

Colin Banana

2011-07-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Hippo Snack Seller

Walrus Ringmaster

Tiger Cannonball

Flamingo Tightrope Walker

Gorilla Strongman

Elephant Clown

I recently visited the New Blood, D&AD exhibition at Trumans Brewery. My favourite piece of work was from the artist Amy Sarah Collins. She is a graduate of visual communication at Loughborough univeristy. Her work on show, was a range of puppets in a glass case. The puppets were a series called Colin Banana. www.colinbanana.com Amy is a 3D model maker with a thirst for puppet fabrication, character design and animation. She uses a wide range of materials and fabrics in her work and prides herself on her attention to detail and quality of craftsmanship.

Her puppets are completely handmade and have been created solely from recycled fabrics and materials. Her final project was development of a title sequence for new TV show the Colin Banana Circus - the story of a travelling circus run by a group of eclectic animal friends - for children aged 4-6 years.

Her puppets were beautifully made, and I could see the characters had been well thought out. On her website, it is great to see photographs of the making process of the characters. I wish her luck, in her future animation career.

Anthropologie

2011-07-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

New York Store Front

Hanging Seagulls

Hanging Marshmellows

Dressing table complete with sewing machine and chanel book

Controverisal display - the brand stole a artist idea

Cherry Blossom Tree Iron Bed

Living Wall

Cupcake Cases Wall

Wallpapers

Beautifully Laid Out

Household utensils chandelier - V&A chandelier style?

Scultpural Cardboard Rolls Wall

Hanging Petals

More Hanging things - Lolipops

Hanging Cameras

Hanging Books

Newspaper Bird

Princess in the Pea Bed

My new favourite inspiring shops is anthropologie, for both the store design and product selection. I have been in the Regents street store and looked in the windows of the smaller Kensington, Kings Road branch.

In the Regents store there was a huge old oak wood dining table, splattered in paint. The style is eclectic, and gives a feeling of individuality. There are cute signs pointing to the till point. The stores sell clothing, jewellery and homeware.

The store is aready established in America, and is relatively new to the UK. When I first visited the store, it was pretty empty, I think this is because most people aren't familar with it yet. Lovely shops to wander around though, the quietness makes it more special. Compared to the pushing and shoving of Primark.

The displays all have a handmade artist feel to them. The brand seems to like to hang things from the celling a lot, as well as repetiveness of the same items displayed, in different colour combinations. The stock is quite expensive, however I noticed with the clothing it is worth the pricing. As most of the clothing, using nice quality fabrics such as velvets and knits. Also there is detailling to pieces, such as embroidery which makes it worth the monies.

Rave On Live

2011-07-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Ravensbourne New Campus

Rory Enjoying Himself

Broadcast Open Plan Classroom

Broadcasting Equipment

Broadcasting - Lots of sitting around involved

Fashion Department Entrance - Tailors Dummies

Blue Ink Shift Dress Drawing

Vintage Blue and Yellow Suitcases

Ghost Party

Kim Nguyen - Textiles

Kim Nguyen - Pandas

Kim Nguyen - Mushrooms

Kim Nguyen - Outfits

Kim Nguyen - Patterns

Kim Nguyen - Fabric Swatches

Sculptural Skelton Piece - Elsa Schiaparelli Style

Demanding Models Poster!

Indoor Miniature Garden

Whole Car on Wall - o2

Recently myself and my family went to see my brother Rory, at his end of year university show. At the new Ravensbourne building, situated in Greenwich opposite the o2. He is studying a degree in broadcast engineering . The end year show main attraction was the, 'Rave on Live' show. Where the whole univerisity works together to produce a tv channel, which could be picked up on Freeview in the local surrounding area. We are all proud of him studying, that evening he co jointly won a award, for most accomplished engineer.

I also enjoyed looking around the fashion display, however most of it had been taken down. The fashion catwalk had been the previous day, so I assume people had already taken work home. The fitting models required poster I liked the harshess of the requirements for the size of the models.

One display stood out to me was the textile patterns designed by Kim Nguyen. I loved her use of bright colours, and style of illustrations combing animals with fashion, a fantasy. I found her work on arts thread. As well as the illustrations, there was swatches of the patterns on fabric. I could see them being sold in a upmarket retailer, such as the Peter Jones haberdashery floor.

We also went in the o2 afterwards for dinner, I liked the full size car, mounted on a wall indoors surrounded by splashed of vibrant paint. In the photo it looks like quite small, even though it wasn't.

Spring Summer Trends 2011

2011-07-03T14:36:00.000-07:00

Le Vernis Mimosa Yellow (Nails) - Chanel

Cherry Bomb (Hair) - Marc Jacobs

Loud Prints - Prada

Tangerine Dream - Cacharel

Floral Fantasy - Erdem

Sport Brogues - Prada

A much needed post on the current spring summer trends of 2011. I have been reading up on the trends in various magazine and online. And these are the main ones I have picked out, the best pieces in my opinion:

- Le Vernis Mimosa Yellow (Nails) - Chanel. Because you can never have enough of bright sunshine, there’s got to be a little sunshine yellow on your fingertips.

- Cherry Bomb (Hair) - Marc Jacobs. Drawing  from the decadence of the Seventies, this sexy, sassy look sees   frothy, candyfloss curls come just the right side of frizzy for a finish   of epic proportions.GET THE LOOK: Rickrack hair in Kirby grips and  leave to set - adding a  spritz of strong hold hair spray. Finally,  brush the hair out and then  backcomb the lengths with a brush.

- Loud Prints - Prada. Miuccia                         Prada                           demonstrated just how fun fashion can be, her    show featured a range of eclectic, 'shouty' prints, including bananas    and monkey motifs, brought together by chunky stripes. 

- Tangerine Dream - Cacharel. Zesty shades of orange give even the most ladylike looks a vibrant youthful flair. Tame your tangerine - use a contrasting rich colour to temper  the shade. Try a touch of turquoise, a dash of hot-pink or a flash of  glossy gold. This hue begs to be worn with tanned, toned legs. If the head-to-toe look is too bold, introduce orange as a lush accent via bags, shoes and shades.

- Floral Fantasy - Erdem. London Fashion Week hot-shot                         Erdem                         created a floral fantasy, fusing primary colours to dazzling effect.

- Sport Brogues - Prada. Are  they brogues? Are they espadrilles? Or are they sporty, spongey,  slightly futuristic edge? The answer: they're  Prada. And in fashion  terms, that's all that matters.

Figures and Fictions Exhibition

2011-07-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

The Parliament - Kudzanai Chiurai

'Babalwa', (from the series Real Beauty) - 2008 - Jodi Bieber

'Blitz Maaneveld' (from the Ex-Offenders series) - 2008 - David Goldblatt

Mini - 2010 - Zanele Muholi

African Street Style - 'Lolo'

The Brave Ones - Zwelethu Mthethwa

Security - Mikhael Subotzky

Friday Night Late - Afropolitan

Scarf Printing

Afropolitan catwalk show

Partly inspiration & work was seeing the V&A exhibition Figures and Fictions Contemporary South African Photography. I was lucky enough to work on the Afropolitans friday night late. So I got to see all the activities going on, including scarf printing.

The Ex-Offenders series (2008) by David Goldblatt, was very interesting to read the story behind each image. The black and white photograph of Blitz Maaneveld, I found quite shocking. His story was full of violence, and the description ended with telling of that after this photo was taken he was murdered not long after.

From more of a fashion point of view I enjoyed the picture of Mini with the array of coloured combs in his hair. Also the street style photographs by Nonsikelelo 'Lolo" Veleko, it is interesting for me to compare Africa to London and New York street style shoots. African street style, shows individuality with many bright colours layered together.

About this exhibition: presented the vibrant and sophisticated photographic culture that has emerged in post-apartheid South Africa. It featured works by some of the most exciting and inventive photographers living and working in South Africa today. The photographs on display responded to the country's powerful rethinking of issues of identity across race, gender, class and politics.

Yohji Yamamoto Exhibition

2011-06-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Yohji Yamamoto Black Ink Illustration

Japanese pigment paint - used to make the prints for Yamamoto garments

Preparation - Mannequin figures

Preparation - garments wrapped in tissue paper

Womenswear - Green Pleated Coat A/W 1986-87 - Wool and Metal

Yellow strapless dress and oversized coolie hat S/S 1997 - Silk

Scaffolding

Menswear - Let's be vagabonds - A uniform for the well dressed man in the creative industries.

Fashion in Motion

Another exhibition I recently attended at the V&A was Yohji Yamamoto. A exhibition and fashion in motion catwalk. It was a very interesting exhibition in the way it had been curated. Many people visiting would at first glance think of it to be a minimlist exhibition. However there was a lot of effort put into the bringing the display together. The minimlist look, is appropiate to the aesthetics of Yamamoto. The bright lighting and no glass cases, allows visitors to appreciate fully the clothing in great detail. The exhibition has been compared to his flag ship store.

Also it was interesting that there were some pieces on display within the permanent collections. I think the menswear pieces displayed to look into the courtyard worked the best. As visitors looked at the back of the garment from the gallery. As well as looking through into the gallery from the courtyard, to see the front of the suits, a voyeuristic feeling from both angles.

The scalfolding gave the layout of the space structure, without this I feel with the outfits not being in case would appear cluttered. I like the fact that once the exhibition was installed, Yamamoto went around the walls and painted illustrations of shadows of the manequins. It was not planned out for him to do this, and I think the illustrations give a extra depth to the display.

I had many favourite pieces, including the Yellow strapless silk dress and oversized coolie hat covered with draped silk, Yohji Yamamoto, Spring/Summer 1997. This outfit harked back to Christian Dior's fifties new look, but with a contemporary twist. From the use of the vivid yellow, and the draping of the fabric. Yamamoto's garments are all made with high quality fabrics, a lot of the garments look quite heavy compared to high street pieces.

About the exhibition: presented the work of Yohji Yamamoto, one of the most influential and enigmatic fashion designers of the last forty years. Yamamoto became internationally renowned as an idosyncratic and ground-breaking fashion designer in the early eighties. He challenged traditional notions of fashion by designing garments that seemed oversized, unfinished, played with ideas of gender or fabrics not normally used in fashionable attire such as felt or neoprene.

Cult of Beauty Exhibition

2011-06-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Castellani brooch and matching hair ornaments - 1875-1895

A Venus - 1869 - Albert Moore

Reading Aloud - 1884 - Albert Moore

Couch - 1893 - Alma-Tadema Lawrence

Symphony in White No.1 The White Girl - 1862 - Whistler

Gentle Spring - Frederick Sandys

Proud Maisie - 1868 - Frederick Sandys

Vivien - 1863 - Frederick Sandys

Mors Janua Vitae - 1861 - Harry Bates

Esther - 1865 - John Everett Millais

Cult of Beauty - Liberty Window display

One of the recent exhibitions I attended was 'The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900'. Being a member of staff at the V&A is wonderful, as I am surrounded by world class exhibitions. I visited the cult of beauty at least three times, it was quite a big exhibition, so it was great being able to take it all in slowly.

It was curated by Stephen Calloway, there was some quirky illustrations of him in the form of wallpaper in Liberty's windows. I have put up pictures above of my favourite pieces. Mostly the oil paintings stood out to me, due to the high quality workmanship.

This exhibition charted the development of the Aesthetic Movement in art and design through the decades from the 1860s to the 1890s. As well as paintings, prints and drawings, the show included examples of all the 'artistic' decorative arts, together with drawings, designs and photographs, as well as portraits, fashionable dress and jewellery of the era. Literary life was represented by some of the most beautiful books of the day, whilst a number of set-pieces revealed the visual world of the Aesthetes, evoking the kind of rooms and ensembles of exquisite objects through which they expressed their sensibilities.

Featured in New Book

2011-06-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

I am soon to be featured in a new art book, titled 'Making Dolls' book. The publishing company is A&C Black Publishers and the author is Ruth Sleigh-Johnson.

The blurb/summary of the book is: This general introduction to making modern dolls features a varied selection of original projects by contemporary designers and makers. Projects to inspire you include rag dolls, a papier-mâché doll with vintage clothes, a knitted and wired pair of Barbie and Ken style dolls,a cashmere dolly, dolls and creatures that are crocheted and dolls made from recycled materials such as scraps of fabric, old tights and pipe cleaners.

Techniques for the construction of the dolls is explained in simple illustrated steps, and surface application such as hand sewing, appliqué, fabric painting and machine embroidery are used to create beautiful dolls that you won’t want to give away...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruth Sleigh-Johnson lives in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex and is a mother of three. She has worked as a freelance stylist and fashion editor for magazines, catalogues and TV and radio items. She has lectured at colleges including London College of Fashion, and currently teaches art and textiles at a girls’ grammar school. She is the author of Practical Textiles Techniques and Practical Sewing Techniques.

Coming out soon, November 2011, the book is available on pre order on amazon, the link is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Dolls-Ruth-Sleigh-Johnson/dp/1408133970/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313590664&sr=1-3

Inspiration - Tamara de Lempicka

2011-06-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

One of my inspiration is the work of the artist Tamara de Lempicka. She produced art deco fashion paintings, the faces she portrayed had a archetectural feeling. From the cubes she used to make up the images. Also she uses a rich colour pallette, of greens and reds. There is a wood like quality, of the texture of the hair. Many of her works are self portraits, she was very glamorous. Her quote on the home page of her website is, 'Among a hundred painting you could recognize mine, my goal was do not copy. Create a new style.'

Work - Dolls for Sale

2011-06-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

Kate Leopardprint

Meadow Chic

Naomi Butterflies

Roxy Kimono

James Swish

Geoffrey Pirate

Missy Sleek

Chloe White Bunches

Olivia Blue Shoes

Veronica Pearly Buttons

Chantal Chain Bag

Jade Party

Grace Fur

Bethany Tweed

Phoebe Trinkets

Stephaine Shiney

Lola Stripes & Naomi Safetypins

Fluer Happy & Betty Heels

Estelle Velvet

Cherry Sparkle

Sarah Sequins

Lottie Sunglasses

Rory Chesnut

Blue Springtime

Millie Make-up

The life size Harvey Nichols fashion textile dolls, are now available to buy. These dolls I specially made for Harvey Nichols, which were used as mannequins instore to display the designer clothing and accesories. The dolls were on display from 2009 - 2011, around most of the Harvey Nichols stores nationwide. Each doll is unique, there are only 26 available listed above.

For more information, on pricing and ordering, please email: cherryhurren@gmail.com

Inspiration - Howard Tangye

2011-06-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

I managed to visit the drawing fashion illustration exhibition at design museum, just before it closed. The layout of the exhibition was minimalst, which made me feel there should have been a lot more work on show. The work that stood out the most to me was from the illustrator Howard Tangye, who held a workshop as part of the exhibition. He uses paint in a beautiful way, which is a inspiration to me. His work has a similar to feel to Egon Schiele's, Tangye is a comtemporary take on portraiture.