Hi I’m Sam, I’ve taught fashion and textiles for over 25 years in further and higher education colleges as well as private creative studio’s and at events such as The Festival of Quilts.
Currently I am the Course Manager for a Level 3 Fashion and Textiles programme where I teach the textiles, drawing, portfolio and fashion illustration modules along with helping to coordinate learners applications into employment and higher education. I am also an online tutor for the School of Stitched Textiles where I support learners on City and Guilds Hand and Machinery Embroidery and Textile courses. July 2022 saw me be awarded the Teaching and Learning Award at the Hampshire Education Awards.
I am a member of two textile studio groups who work together to explore techniques and create work with the support of each other. 2022 saw me study natural dyeing with the fabulous Jenny Dean and I can now call myself a Ditchling Dyer! I’ve been exploring natural dyes further and incorporating them into my own and teaching work with 2024 seeing me team up with another natural dyer, Ginny Farquhar to offer a range of workshops. Keep an eye on the workshop page for upcoming offerings.
During 2024 I worked on a lovely project with Farnham Crafts Quarter, to deliver a heritage crafts course to 11-16 year olds. Part of the project also enabled the creation of a natural dye garden and I’m looking forward to working with them further in 2025. I’ve been inspired by nature and gardening since helping my mum and dad as a toddler many years ago! My mum is a keen gardener and my grandad was a Head Gardener so its in the genes!
2024 was a busy year, I travelled to Japan to research traditional indigo techniques and work with Japanese indigo artist Makiko Tokunaga and indigo master Takayuki Ishii. Learning about the sukumo fermentation vat along with indigo shibori techniques has now provided me with lots of things to explore in 2025.
Diary of a Textiles Teacher 