About me

I am an illustrator and textile artist living in Bristol, UK. My work features vibrant colour, pattern-making and a variety of textural surfaces. Much of my work celebrates being in harmony with nature, as well as exploring identity and culture. I have created artwork for organisations, including logo illustrations for Rising Arts Agency, and a body of work as part of a residency at the Creative Youth Network. I am also a freelance workshop Facilitator at various organisations around Bristol, including the Royal West of England Academy. In this line of work I have become passionate about sharing my knowledge with others, enjoying connecting with the community through creativity.

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• Hey, I was wondering if anyone could offer me some feedback on my portfolio. It would be much appreciated!

Projects

• 5

  The Cube Cinema, Bristol - Textile CommissionTextile commission for the Cube Cinema making a collection of fabric signs for their seats.
• 2

  The Spirit Animal SeriesA series of illustrations all exploring connections between myself and certain animals and plants.
• 2

  Dream Diaries​ As an illustrator, I have become fascinated by the symbols and “language” of the unconscious mind, and am creating a series of paintings in response to the various archetypes, colours and stories that appear in my own and other’s dreams, and what they teach us about our lives in the physical world. ​
• 1

  Textile TransfersHere are lots of fun experiments with various transfer techniques, where I used a heat press to create patterns on fabric, painting directly with disperse dyes. Then, I used stencils with adhesive to transfer foils and flocks, puff and suede binders onto the fabric. Read more about my experience here on a blog post: https://rising.org.uk/bleeding-colour-melissa-cooney/
• 2

  Garota Hacker Fashion ProjectI was involved in a collaboration between Textile Artists and Fashion Designers from Bristol and Brazilian Fashion Company "Garota Hacker". We made a sustainable fashion collection that was launched at Cabot Circus Shopping Centre in December 2019. For more information see this article about the collaboration on Bristol 24/7: https://www.bristol247.com/lifestyle/fashion/young-sustainable-fashion-designers-create-an-impact-at-cabot-circus/
• 1

  Rising Arts Agency Logo IllustrationsI was commissioned by Rising Arts Agency to create two illustrations for their logo. My illustrations were colourful and playful, and each told a story about connecting to the natural world.

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Work history

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Textile Workshop AssistantCreative youth network
Feb 2020Bristol, United KingdomFreelance
• Assist in workshops teaching young people a variety of textile techniques, such as hand and machine sewing, embroidery, dying, printing, weaving and appliqué
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Studio AssistantTrylla
Feb 2020Bristol, United KingdomFreelance
• Facilitate clay building workshops for children and adults • Make orders and process deliveries • Day to day running of the shop, such as opening and closing, serving customers, and cleaning

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Skills

• Embroidery
• Dress Making
• Contemporary Embroidery
• Drawing
• Illustration
• Adobe Photoshop
• Machine Sewing
• Hand Sewing
• Design
• Painting Illustration

Education

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Illustration BA (hons) The University of the West of England
Aug 2014Bristol, United Kingdom
Foundation Diploma in Art and DesignFalmouth University
Aug 2013Falmouth, United Kingdom

Awards

UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Progression & Studentship AwardFalmouth University