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Creative Profiles: Katy Devereux

Here at Creative Calderdale we love the rich diversity of creative talent this Borough has to offer, from traditional artists to new media specialists, web designers to theatre schools. That’s why we’ve decided to launch our brand new series: Creative Profiles. Creative Profiles is an opportunity to celebrate Calderdale’s brilliant creative work and the people who create it.

Our first Creative Profile features Sowerby Bridge artist, Katy Devereux whose beautiful textile work and printmaking echo the industrial heritage of our locality whilst posing important questions about it’s future. So, why not put the kettle on and take 5 to read what she had to say when we caught up with her earlier this month …

What drew you to art initially?
I have always been a creative person, but I think the fact that my mum, my nan and my granddad were extremely artistic really helped me with regards to my initial interest in the arts.  My mum is an excellent painter, my granddad was a weaver and knitter (as well as a pigeon racer!) and my nan had me sitting for portraits in her art class from a young age.  They certainly helped me in finding art and since then it has always been a part of my life.

Did you study art, or has your work grown from a hobby?
I did study art, it was my favourite subject at school and at 16 after my GCSE's I went onto study art and design at BTEC level at Huddersfield Technical college, this gave me a real insight into the life of an art student, those two years at college, really opened my eyes to the possibilities of a career in art.  I focused quite a lot on fashion and textiles at that point, which lead me to go onto study Fashion Promotion at University of Central Lancashire as a degree.  I studied that for two years, leaving the course in the third year to pursue my passion for making things, it was then that I applied for the textile design BA at Bradford School of Art, unfortunately, or not as the case may be, that course was cancelled and I was offered a place on the Art and Design BA.  It was an incredible course with fantastic lecturers, and has led me to great things, personally and professionally.

What subjects inspire your art?
I am inspired by many things; history, architecture, our built environment, urban and natural landscapes, the written word, typography, layers, rust, decay, the abandoned, the dilapidated, found objects, old books, old clothes, moth-eaten fabric, vintage textile objects, vintage clothes, furniture, robust and industrial objects, maps, grids.  I am specifically interested in our current society and globalisation, import and export, sustainability, recycling.  Coming from an old mill town, what remains of our rich textile heritage is one of the main focuses of my work, which I feel feeds into the current social and ecological debates, although, there doesn't seem to be that many of them at present!

Which artists do you most admire, and why?
I admire the likes of Eva Hesse, Louise Bourgeois, Robert Rauschenberg, Anselm Kiefer, Cornelia Parker, Tapies, Cy Twombly, Sophie Calle.  They are all inspiring to me, the likes Eva Hesse and Cornelia Parker for their forward thinking and concepts.  Tapies and Rauschenberg for their use of the found object and the re-appropriation of their work.  Cy Twombly for his vivid, abstract creations which have an incredible presence.  Louise Bourgeois for her use of textiles and self exploration in fine art.

What media do you use and why? Do you have a favourite media?
I work across the spheres of fine art and craft, using drawing, photography, collage, embroidery and printmaking.  My favourite is difficult to choose, but it would be between printmaking and embroidery.  I specifically practice etching and photopolymer gravure techniques in printmaking, though I still have other printmaking techniques to try.  I really enjoy photographing my work, especially the embroidery work I do, as this enables me to take the work into another media, digital printing, the detailed shots of my embroidery work can become digital prints in their own right.

How do you think you’ve developed as an artist over the years?
I am still developing all the time, but I have certainly developed my own style and gathered themes to my work, which I feel will continue to grow.  My time at Bradford was fundamental in my growing as an artist, it made me think about art as a concept, which is a heavy feature of my work.  It’s fantastic to make something that looks great but if you have the opportunity to inspire or ignite through art you should take it.  We are part of a world where we are bombarded with images and ideals, art gives us the opportunity to make up our minds as to what we see, or it should do in my opinion.

Where would you like to be in the future?
I would like to be in my own studio working on new work for exhibitions and publications.  I would also like to continue with personal art commissions and collaborations with writers, poets, musicians and other artists.  At some point in the future I would love to set up a graduate art studio and gallery, giving recently graduated artists the opportunity to have 12-18 months in a communal studio and art gallery, kind of a stepping stone, but I would want it here in the north of England, to help promote art in the north!

Do you have any favourite pieces or projects you’ve worked on?
The most stand out would have to be my final project at university, Remnants and Threads, that project enabled me to explore my local history as well as my family history.  It focused on the former textile industry of Halifax, I was inspired by the abandoned textile mill which stands at Old Lane, Ovenden and found items that I had had donated to me by my family.  Most recently though, I really enjoyed collaborating with a friend, who is a singer, he gave me some of his lyrics and free reign to do what I wanted.  I work well with the written word, and the textile wall hanging I created was individual to him because it was his words that created it.  I am currently working with the poem of a local poet to create another textile piece.  I think that personalised art is really special and I look forward to more commissions so that I can create one-off, individual pieces for people to give as gifts or to have made for themselves, art should be personal and kept forever.

Which works are you most proud of and why?
I am very proud of my degree show work, Remnants and Threads, as it got me a first class degree!  It also opened up opportunities for exhibitions at The Brahm Gallery in Leeds and The Piece Hall, Halifax.  Remnants enabled me to work across printmaking and embroidery and it helped me discover what I love to do, which is work with paper, thread, ink, fabric, to sew, to draw, to work on a book as an art object, to make a film installation and much more.

Where can we see more of your work?
My work is not currently exhibiting anywhere, but you can check out my work on Flickr - Katy Devereux - My Art and you can also follow my blog http://katydevereuxart.blogspot.com.  I will be approaching galleries soon and galleries, shops, possible commissions and people can certainly feel free to contact me.  I currently live in Sowerby Bridge and I would love to get into local shops and galleries. 

If you’d like to get in touch with Katy regarding exhibition material or private commissions, please contact:

Post:  Katy Devereux, 2 Poplar Avenue, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax
Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web:  www.katydevereux.com
Blog:  http://katydevereuxart.blogspot.com

Would you like to be considered for our next Creative Profile? We’d love to hear from you, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with Creative Profiles in the subject line and we’ll be in touch.

Author: Creative Calderdale
Source: Creative Calderdale
Date:  31st August 2010
Images:  Katy Devereux