Jean Littlejohn

Jean Littlejohn

Profile

Jean was born in Maidenhead, England. She trained as a teacher, specializing in Art and Textiles. Her work has been exhibited and sold in the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, Israel, Japan and many other parts of the world.

Jeans works reflect a continuing fascination with pathways and journeys, routines and rhythms and traditional patterns that surround us. Her surfaces describe echoes from the past, layers of life and experience and aspects of decay. She is fascinated by history and the movement of time. This has lead to the exploration of notions concerning revealing and concealing. Sometimes the fragility of the works hint at the impermanence of human presence. The techniques and materials vary depending on the inspiration for the work but they often involve stitch by hand and or machine and the use of the needle punch machine to combine and integrate surfaces. She is always prepared to develop and try new techniques.

Jean has become one of the best-known teachers of textile art and has held workshops in the UK, across Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Her first book related to Smocking but that was by no means a limiting technique. She won an award for the outstanding use of metal threads and is one of the foremost users of the needle punch machine in modern textile art. In 1997, Jean co-founded Double Trouble Enterprises with Jan Beaney. This company was formed to publish books and promote further interest in embroidery and allied subjects. Their aim is to give students the confidence to design and create their own unique work. They have published 27 books and 3 DVDs.

Jean, along with Jan, is the Joint President and Honorary Member of the Embroiderers’ Guild. She is a Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and a member of the 62 Group.

The following quote is from ‘Inspired to Stitch’ by Diana Springall

“The citation for her Honorary Membership read; “In recognition of her outstanding service to embroidery as an artist, lecturer and advocate. To these words should be added any that express wholehearted generosity. Together they so perfectly sum up what Jean’s embroidery has meant to a great number of people and form the significant platform from which her own work emerges.”

YOKE
WINTER SOLSTICE
TIME AND TIDE
STRAWBERRY SOLSTICE
ON EDGE
Maidenhead, England
Southern
1991

Workshops: Yes
Talks: Yes
Commissions: No