YSP visit.

I spent last weekend catching up with Miss Beresford, and of course a trip to the Yorkshire sculpture Park was in order, it was a lovely day out and gave me an excuse to get wrapped up warm in my new winter coat and experience the crisp cold air.

As winter sets in and the jumpers come out, there seems nothing more appropriate than the colourful juxtaposition between Donna Wilson wildlife creatures and the soft textiles she utilises to execute her vivid designs,

Scottish designer Donna Wilson brings her playful textiles to Yorkshire Sculpture Park this winter, drawing inspiration from the landscape to create an eccentric world of knitted trees and curiosities featuring her trademark patterns and colours alongside exclusive limited edition prints. Awarded ‘Designer of the Year 2010’ by Elle Decoration, Donna is known for her knitted creatures, textiles, homewares and furniture.




Donna's vision will transform the YSP Centre into a tactile enchanted garden. Traditional materials combine with her humorous touch in a magical land where woolly pompoms become leaves, knitted tubes become branches and layers of patterned rugs create a forest floor.

The Upper Space features a canopy of soft sculptural shapes covered in Donna’s striking knitted patterns, blending textures and colours alongside a range of beautiful limited edition screen-prints produced specifically for this exhibition. The Upper Concourse showcases a wall of screen-printed ceramics plates, small prints and one-off drawings in an eclectic mix of materials and patterns displayed in mix and match frames. The display in the four-metre shop window, a seasonal highlight at YSP, is an enticing scene with Donna’s unusual creatures hidden in woodland and complemented by her hand-drawn illustrations. An exclusive limited edition screen-print produced by Donna for the show will be available only at YSP, alongside a range of her products in the YSP shop such as cushions, throws and blankets, ceramics, knitted creatures, scarves, hats,
socks and gloves.

Much of Donna’s work is a celebration of traditional methods and materials combined with her distinctive style. She is committed to using UK-based manufacturers and suppliers wherever possible, keeping craftsmanship alive. Donna sources her lambswool yarns from Z. Hinchliffe and Sons in Denby Dale, and retains her Scottish roots with her smaller pieces such as the toys and scarves knitted on machines by a small family-run business in Galasheils on the Scottish border, and another lady based in Orkney has produced Donna’s ‘Cyril Squirrels’ for the last six years.

Donna graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 1999 and went on to study mixed media textiles at the Royal College of Art. She set up her company in 2003 after making odd knitted creatures for her final show at the Royal College of art. The creatures sold out and since then she has built her business designing and making a collection of curious cushions, luxurious lambswool blankets, and a variety of products for you and your home. She is passionate about creating products that people can connect with and making things that customers will treasure. Donna runs a studio and workshop in East London. Her hardworking team knit, sew, pack and send out products to individuals and design shops around the world – 25 countries at the last count. Last year Donna won the prestigious accolade of Designer of the Year 2010 in the Elle Decoration British Design Awards.


Information from http://www.ysp.co.uk/exhibitions/donna-wilson-endangered-species