Tracy Bidwell
Ballistic Owl
Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomI'm an award winning surface designer with a passion for pattern and design. I have a 1st class degree in Textiles and surface design from the fabulous Cleveland College of Art and Design.
My designs are inspired by science and nature, architecture and design details and I love to add colour and texture into my work. The designs I produce are hand screen printed and hand finished with digital playing it's part in some of the design stage.
Surfaces I design for include fabrics for interiors, rugs and solid surfaces. Once I've designed a pattern I love to explore it's possibilities and how it can be developed further. By being able to design for textiles I can then translate that onto coordinating items such as rugs.
My embellishments and embroidery are all by hand and I find it a lovely process and even though items are planned, sometimes elements within it grow and develop organically.
My designs are inspired by science and nature, architecture and design details and I love to add colour and texture into my work. The designs I produce are hand screen printed and hand finished with digital playing it's part in some of the design stage.
Surfaces I design for include fabrics for interiors, rugs and solid surfaces. Once I've designed a pattern I love to explore it's possibilities and how it can be developed further. By being able to design for textiles I can then translate that onto coordinating items such as rugs.
My embellishments and embroidery are all by hand and I find it a lovely process and even though items are planned, sometimes elements within it grow and develop organically.
Work Experience
Ballistic Owl
Owner/surface designer
I am currently building my own business under the name of Ballistic Owl, where I design interior textiles, rugs and solid surface patterns. My main website has designs for rugs that are made to order and I'm also open for commissions. I have also opened an online shop where I sell my hand produced cushions and designed items.
I am open for commissions and collaborations.
I am open for commissions and collaborations.
Present
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Ted Todd Hardwood Flooring
Designer
As the designer at Ted Todd I set up a research and development studio within the company. Here I sourced suppliers, ink, varnishes and equipment to enable me to carry out the development project. I also created a set of design collections to suit the rest of the Ted Todd ranges and presented these as printed test samples for the directors and sales staff.
April 2012
- March 2013
Warrington, United Kingdom
Education
Cleveland College Of Art And Design
BA Hons Textiles and Surface Design
A fantastic degree course where I learnt all aspects of surface design. I received a 1st class honours and gained skills in screen printing from preparation to print, drawing skills and interpreting images and embroidery skills.
Design history was taught in contextual studies and I loved discovering new design eras and designers.
Design history was taught in contextual studies and I loved discovering new design eras and designers.
September 2008
- June 2011
Hartlepool, United Kingdom
Newcastle College
National Diploma Art and Design
This was a general art and design course that gave a taster of all the elements within art and design, from fine art to 3D. It was here that I found a love for printing and textiles and in my second year specialised in textiles.
I gained a rare triple distinction at the end of this course.
I gained a rare triple distinction at the end of this course.
September 2006
- June 2008
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Awards
Madeira Threads
Selected to have a stand at the Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch show NEC Birmingham
2011
Skills
Screenprinting,
Hand Embroidrey,
Pattern Development,
Photoshop,
Surfacepatterndesign,
Trend Research,