Leia Cooper

As an artist I like to push my work in different directions, experimenting with new concepts to inspire me. Working in organised chaos helps me to be creative when putting ideas together, often leading to really exciting developments. Travelling and experiencing variety in life have helped me to become a more confident designer.

I specialised in woven textiles at university, and have learned so much in the past 3 years. I feel the most satisfiying part of weaving is not only experimenting and sampling, but the great sense of achievement on taking your own length of weave off the loom.

Having learned a range of practical and theoretical skills - working out/planning weave patterns, setting up the loom and resolving technical issues or problems when something on the loom goes wrong, I feel my forte is in experimental pieces using elastic, wire, bought fabric, plastics and a wide range of weights of yarns. Although challenging, I thoroughly enjoyed maniplulating and producing samples of fabric and was thrilled to win the Basingstoke College Higher Education Learner Of The Year Award 2007 through my endeavours.