Curriculum Vitae

Education

1972–79 Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen
1979–80 Birmingham Polytechnic – Arts Foundation
1980–83 Manchester Polytechnic – BA (Hons) Fashion/Textiles
1983–85 Royal College of Art – MA RCA Woven Textiles

Exhibitions (selected)

1986
Liberty, London
South Bank Centre, London
Oriel Bangor, Bangor
Thamesday Exhibition, London

1987
Oriel Pendeitsh, Caernarfon
Cheshire County Council – Travelling Exhibition
Janet Shand-Kydd, The Green Room
Direct Design Show, London
Royal Exchange Manchester

1988
Bluecoat Chambers, Liverpool
Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno
Royal Exchange Manchester
‘As You Like It’: South Bank Centre, London
‘Parseli Nadolig’: Wrexham Arts Centre
Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno

1989
Oriel 31, Newtown, Powys
Pembridge Gallery, Leominster
Contemporary Textile Gallery,
‘All About Wool’: Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, Cwmbrân,

1990
‘6 Crafts on 4’: Crafts Council, London & touring
International Linen Promotion: Contemporary Textile Gallery
Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno
Oriel, Welsh Arts Council’s Gallery, Cardiff
European Commission Conference on Crafts – Exhibition Rep. Wales – W.D.A., W.A.C., C.C. Britain – Auignon, France

1991
International Linen Promotion Exhibition Conference, Paris: Rep.
Britain Weave
‘Capeli Pesda’ Bethesda Chapels – Y Tabernacl, Machynlleth

1992
Hintextile: Atlanta Georgia USA

1992–94
Cefyn Burgess: Designer/Dylunydd: First major solo exhibition
Originated by The Gallery, Ruthin Craft Centre and touring to:
Canolfan Y Plase, Bala;
Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen;
Oriel 31, Newtown, Powys;
Pembroke Dock Library Gallery;
Ucheldre Centre, Holyhead;
Buckinghamshire County Museum, Aylesbury;
Fermoy Art Gallery, King’s Lynn Arts Centre, Norfolk;
Cleveland Crafts Centre, Middlesbrough;
Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, Cwmbrân, Gwent

1992
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Aberystwyth – Craft Gold Medal
‘Mirrors’: Winchester Gallery & Touring – Southern Arts Touring

1993
‘Deck chairs’: Winchester Gallery & Touring – Southern Arts Touring
National Museum of Wales, Llanberis – Solo exhibition
‘Mid Summer Night’s Dream’ The Gallery Ruthin Craft Centre
Chelsea Craft Fair, London

1998
The Gallery, Ruthin Craft Centre – Solo Touring Exhibition Awards

1989
Worshipful Company of Weavers: ‘Craft Weaver of the Year’

1987
National Eisteddfod: Bro Madog – Textiles

1990
Travel Award to Philadelphia: Wales/Philadelphia Exchange – British American Arts Association

1990
Craft Council

1990
Welsh Arts Council

1992
Craft Gold Medal – National Eisteddfod: Aberystwyth

Collections

National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth – Illustrations
Tabernacl Arts Centre, Machynlleth – Illustrations
Television
‘Not Pots 6 – Crafts on 4’ for Channel 4 1990
Celfagati – Children’s Arts Programme for S4C – Co-presenter for three series 1994–97

Residencies

Macclesfield, Silk Museum, Paradise Mill – NWAA & Cheshire County Council 1987–89Eisteddfod Genedlaethol – Newport 1988
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol – Rhymney 1990
Glynn Vivian, Swansea 1991
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol – Mold 1991
Ysgol Morfa Rhiannedd 1992
Ysgol Tudno 1992
Ruthin Craft Centre 1992
Eisteddfod yr Urdd – Ruthin 1992
National Trust, Plas Erddig 1993
Cywaith Cymru•Artworks Wales – Pentrefoelas 1997

Commissions

Liberty London – Products
Paul Smith, London – Blankets
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, East Finchley – Vestments
Paul Smith, London – Ceramic
The Richard Wilson Arts Centre – Refurnish
Designers Guild – Blankets
Contemporary Textiles Gallery: International Linen Promotion – Blankets
Cyfarthfa Castle – Refurnish
North Wales Tourism – Products
British Museum – Products
Harvey Nichols – Products
National Museum of Wales – Products
Plas Penglais – Aberystwyth – Refurbish
Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon – Carpet
Plas Newydd – Glynllifon – Refurbish

Design

Cavendish Textiles, John Lewis plc – Weave
Queensbury Hunt – Ceramic
Gallery Five – Paper and Cards
The Medici Society – Paper and Cards
Firth Furnishings Ltd – Weave
Courtaulds Auto Products – Weave
Courtaulds Mayfair Manufacturing Co. – Print
Hill and Knowles
Yardby Luggage Ltd.
Tabernacl Cultural Centre, Machynlleth

Consultant Work

Irish Craft Council
Hill and Knowles
Menter Hiraethog – Business Venture.

Teaching and Lectures

Belfast College of Art and Design; National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland; Manchester Polytechnic; Birmingham Polytechnic; Cambridge College of Art and Technology; Chesterfield College of Art and Design; Bangor College; Morgannwg Ganol College of Art and Design; Gwent College of Art and Design; Macclesfield College of Higher Education; The Richard Wilson Arts Centre; Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Casnewydd and Bro Delyn; The Crafts Council; Grennan Mills College, Thomastown, Ireland; Cheshire County Council; NEWI Wrexham College of Art; Carmarthen College CCTA; Coleg Meirion Dwyfor; Coleg Menai; Bradford College of Higher Education.

Quotes

Since leaving the Royal College of Art in 1985, Cefyn Burgess has produced a vast body of work and has become established as one of Britain’s foremost designer makers working in the field of textiles. After completing his M.A., he stayed in London for a year and set up a workshop in Bethnal Green where he painted and printed woven blankets and ceramic plates for various shops such as Liberty’s of London and Paul Smith. In 1985, he was offered a two year post as weaver-in-residence at the Paradise Mill Silk Museum in Macclesfield; this gave him the opportunity to develop his skill in Jacquard weaving and to gain valuable experience of working in the textile industry. From Macclesfield, he moved back to North Wales, where he was able to renovate a disused Jacquard powerloom and with the help of grants from the Crafts Council and the Worshipful Company of Weavers, he was able to purchase and renovate three hand looms.

From this period he developed a range of rugs, quilts, upholstery fabrics based on designs taken from the neo-Norman Penrhyn Castle in North Wales and naïve animal images drawn from the Assyrian and Babylonian Galleries at the British Museum in London. Although his initial interest was in woven textiles, his designs have since been applied to many other media and throughout this time, his designs were in great demand for use on textiles and other products. His many clients include: The British Museum; The Contemporary Textiles Gallery; Designers Guild; Gallery Five; International Linen Promotion; John Lewis plc; National Museum of Wales and The Medici Society.