MA student Robin will be exhibiting his work at Kirkleatham Museum from January to June this year as part of the second instalment of The Northern Art Gala, a creative multi-venue showcase from our postgraduate students. Finishing textiles at degree-level winning the ‘Student of the Year Award 2023’ Robin has taken the next step in his practice with his MA in Design Practice. Read on to find out more about his work!

Tell us about your involvement in The Northern Art Gala 2024!

I will be exhibiting work within Kirkleatham museum from January to June, under The Northern Gala of 2024. This exhibition came about through my current masters’ studies as part of a module that is focused on showcasing each individuals practice at an elevated level.

Tell us about the work you will be exhibiting!

The work I am featuring will be a three-piece collection of hand-painted designs created using disperse inks that transfer to fabric using pressure and heat. The fabrics are pinned and draped using moulage techniques to show how my work is intended for fashion design. Inspired by nature and natural forms, taking the colours captured within first hand imagery. The overall design style is abstract, showing a contemporary and fine art interpretation of nature. The natural environment has always been a source of inspiration for creativity, especially within fashion design, symbolising beauty and rebirth. Now translated through my design practice.

My practice is focused on print design for the fashion industry. My style explores textural marks, shapes, and colour. Created using traditional hand-rendered processes mixed with contemporary digital processes. I am always interested in collaging processes and techniques in exciting and innovative ways. I’m still fresh from undergraduate so, it will be interesting to see how much my practice develops and changes through this next level of studying. Which is more elevated and intense so there is lots of ways in how I could develop.

Which MA are you studying and how are you finding it? Do you think that the postgraduate course has positively benefitted you and your practice?

I am currently studying Design Practice and it is definitely challenging but in a motivating aspect. Driving me to push and underpin what defines my practice and identity as a creative practitioner. I am constantly evolving my practice through new techniques or processes and the masters’ facilities the space for me to do so.

Let us know about any other projects you would like to mention!

After this project I will be diving straight into a new project with even more print, colour, design and innovation for textiles design. I’m excited to see where it takes me.

Keep up to date on Robins work on his Instagram: @mclaughlintextiles

If you are interested in studying textiles at degree level make sure you check out our course page here, we offer a dynamic and well-established course for students that are looking to break in to the diverse world of the textiles industry. If you have graduated from your degree and are looking to take the next step in to practice based research find out more about our Masters degrees here.