Ones to Watch: Interview with Millie Rothera

Find out more about Millie's work!

June 4th, 2020

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Tell us about yourself!

I graduated from Leeds Arts University in 2019 after studying printed textiles and surface pattern design for three years. I would describe my work as bright, bold craft. I describe it as craft as I produce my pattern designs using screen printing, I love this production method as it is really hands on and I find pleasure in the process, rather than spending all my time at a computer. Colour is always an overarching theme of my work but visually I am often inspired by architecture and interior products, looking at the shapes created rather than illustrative quality.

I have a small studio set up at home so whilst being in lock down, I will continue to print and sew my products as well as some personal craft projects, like making a new skirt and doing some embroidery. I’ll probably get round to reading the latest @frankiemagazine, an arts and culture magazine, at some point too. Basically become a retired lady.

Whilst at University I wrote my dissertation on Modernism and the Bauhaus. I was very inspired by the work of textile artist Anni Albers, who studied within the Bauhaus weaving workshop, and Architect Le Corbusier. The crafts people of this time focused on creating well-made design that would stand the test of time. I try and apply this to my own work as I want to create products that will be seen as timeless rather than follow any current trend. This being said, I follow lots of current artists and designers on social media sites like Instagram. I love fashion and homeware brand @dusendusen and wall paper brand @_newhat_ , as well as interior design duo @2lgstudio. All these designers are just doing what they love and I think that makes for really brilliant design.

For the future, I want to keep designing and developing my brand, however since finishing University I have realised how much I enjoy talking to my peers about design and creating. I’d love to teach screen printing and assist with creative advice as a technician within an educational institute. In the mean time I plan to teach small group screen printing workshops for beginners.

Find out more about Millie’s work here.

Read about all the Ones to Watch artists here.

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General Arts & Culture