1. Kaplan; 2. Painted Desert; 3. CP 6003 printed furnishing fabric
Shirley Craven, Althea McNish, Hull Traders, David Whitehead Ltd, 1958-1962
These three bolts of fabric illustrate the innovative work in British textile designs of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
All three fabrics were printed in Lancashire. Shirley Craven trained at the Royal College of Art, and became colour and design consultant for Hull Traders in 1959.
Over the next 20 years she designed 43 patterns for the company (including Kaplan), as well as commissioning designers such as Althea McNish to work for the firm. McNish, born in Trinidad, achieved a high profile as one of the first black textile designers of the post-war era. The bold, colourful prints epitomised by the work of these two women became a hallmark of the company.
The nearby Lancashire firm of David Whitehead Fabrics also created innovative textiles in the 1960s, including the anonymous CP 6003 print inspired by the paintings of the Abstract Expressionists.
More information
Title of artwork, date
1. Kaplan; 2. Painted Desert; 3. CP 6003 printed furnishing fabric, 1958-1962
Date supported
2015
Medium and material
1. Hand screen-printed cotton; 2. Hand screen-printed cotton satin; 3. Screen printed cotton twill
Dimensions
1. 244 x 127cm, 2. 228 x 128cm, 3. 100 x 125cm
Grant
1000
Total cost
5500
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