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Textiles (MA)

Lily Mcdonnell

Long woven sample photographed on Hunstanton beach.

Lily McDonnell is a textile practitioner specialising in woven design. She is interested in the natural world, with a keen passion for natural dyeing processes. 

Born in North Norfolk, her work is guided by the use of regional materials, demonstrating her strong ethos for ethical and traceable textile design. 


Awards

Priestman Goode x RCA, Materials and Health, winner, 2022

London Mayor’s Social Enterprise Award, semi-finalist, 2022


Exhibitions

SustainLab, LEGACY, Hockney Gallery, (2023)

Surface Design Show, Surface Spotlight Live, Business Design Centre, (2023)

Priestman Goode, Materials and Health, London Design Week (2022)

Modulyss Showroom, Clerkenwell Design Week, (2022)

Degree Details

School of DesignTextiles (MA)WeaveRCA2023 at Truman Brewery

Truman Brewery, F Block, First and second floors

Lily McDonnell weaving on a loom.

The Woven Coast

The Woven Coast was formed through locality, looking to North Norfolk’s landscape and materials not only for inspiration, but as tools for making.

Working with region-specific materials, my intention was to create work that speaks to the value of locality in textile production. The textiles reflect the traditions of Norfolk through handcrafted, traditional techniques, which are rooted in the region’s heritage and history.

My material use was informed by conscious choices. I foraged earth pigments from Norfolk beaches, I worked with local farmers and artisans to source native wool, and I contacted regional mills for their deadstock yarn.

The materials are a reflection of the land, and my work is a reflection of the materials.

The cliffs of Hunstanton. Showing white chalk, red chalk, and sandstone.
The Cliffs of Hunstanton. – White chalk, red chalk, and sandstone.
Natural paper dyed with red chalk, sandstone, and clay.
Natural paper dyed with red chalk, sandstone, and clay.
Norfolk Horn woolen woven fabric dyed with clay.
Untitled. Norfolk Horn Wool dyed with clay.
Image of ripples in the sea.
Norfolk Horn woolen woven fabric dyed with red chalk.
Untitled. Norfolk Horn Wool dyed with red chalk.
Image of red chalk.
Norfolk Horn woolen woven fabric dyed with sandstone.
Untitled. Norfolk Horn Wool dyed with sandstone.
Image of sandstone.
Norfolk Horn woolen woven fabric dyed with red chalk and sandstone.
Untitled. Norfolk Horn Wool dyed with red chalk and sandstone.
Norfolk Horn woolen woven fabric dyed with red chalk.
Untitled. Norfolk Horn Wool dyed with red chalk.
Woven fabric dyed with red chalk. Norfolk Horn wool and Gainsborough silk.
Untitled. Norfolk Horn wool dyed with red chalk. Silk donated from Gainsborough Silk Weaving Co.
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Royal College of Art

Registered Office: Royal College of Art,
Kensington Gore, South Kensington,
London SW7 2EU