About

Diane Watson was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1968, developing an early fascination with pattern and colour inspired by the wallpaper sample books brought home by her painter and decorator father. Diane went on to study Ceramics at Loughborough and later a degree in Textiles at Cleveland College of Art and Design, which led to a teaching post at CCAD where she eventually became course leader for Fashion and Textiles. Diane also has an MA in Ceramics, graduating from Sunderland University in 2009.

After leaving teaching, Diane has thrown herself fully into her own practice, taking long contemplative walks along the beautiful north east coastline with her rescue dogs Bobby and Finn, to inspire her environmentally-themed work. These have borne many discoveries, starting out as a quest for interesting flotsam and jetsam but culminating in an awareness of the extent of damaging impact of plastics which are washed up on the seashore.

Diane’s current work focuses on the myriad of plastic items washed up by surge tides along the North East coast. Her collection of thousands of plastic tops, toys, bottles, lighters and other discarded items are used to create kaleidoscopic patterns reminiscent of the 1970s wallpapers of her childhood.

Press

Click to access Diane-watson-MIMA-Interview.pdf

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-46855707

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/hartlepool-woman-s-remarkable-art-creations-from-dumped-plastic-1-8980662

http://www.waterjournal.co.uk/news/plastic-waste-artist-sees-gritty-reality-sewage-pumping-station/

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/17362446.one-woman-two-dogs-and-7000-pieces-of-plastic/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-tyne-50418847/durham-lumiere-washed-up-artwork-shows-plastic-pollution

Exhibitions

Thoughtful Planet 2017 Thought Foundation Gateshead

Fresh Rural Arts Thirsk 2017

Colour Cupola Gallery Sheffield 2017

Festival of Thrift Latest Edition Project 2017