Education
- MA Cultural & Critical Studies Birkbeck College, University of London (2005) MERIT
- BA (Hons) English Literature King Alfred’s College, Winchester (2001) High 2:1
Solo exhibitions
- Time & Tide – Artistsmeet Gallery, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire (2016)
- Stranded – National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth (2015)
- Beyond the Horizon – Gateway Gallery, London Luton International Airport (2014)
- Flotsam Weaving – Bromham Watermill Gallery, Bedfordshire (2014)
- Flotsam – Space2 Gallery, Watford Museum (2014)
Selected group exhibitions
- Postcards from the Anthropocene, University of Edinburgh (2017)
- Kuuki: the things we take for granted but cannot live without – The Roper Gallery, Bath (2017)
- 1000 Postcards – Black Swan Arts, Somerset (2016)
- Timeframe – Fringe Arts Bath festival, Somerset (2016)
- Alternative Nature Open – Electric Picture House, Cheshire (2016)
- Twitter Art Exhibit – Trygve Gallery, New York City, USA (2016)
- Vessels: An exhibition of fiber art – Nave Gallery, Boston, USA (2014)
- Not a Drop – 47-49 Gallery, Tanner St, London (2013)
Talks & Presentations
- Microplastics & Me conference University College London (2018)
- Being Human Festival 2017 Lost & Found: the serendipity of collecting, University of Cambridge (2017)
- Culture Challenge Peer to Peer Development Day (2017)
- Creative Bedfordshire invited speaker (2017)
- Curious Objects, University of Cambridge (2017)
- Cheshire Embroidery Guild (2017)
- Art by the Sea festival, Bournemouth (2016)
- St Neots Pecha Kucha event (2016)
- Chiltern Embroidery & Textile Group (2016)
- Litter Free Coast & Sea conference, University of Bournemouth (2016)
- London Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers (2016)
- Mid Herts Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers (2015)
- Invited to speak at TEDxBedford InDesign event (2014)
- Creative Bedfordshire Pecha Kucha event (2014)
Teaching & Workshops
- Wellbeing Nature Retreat at The Chellington Centre for Culture Challenge schools (2017)
- Heritage Lottery Fund WWI workshop – Abbots Langley School & Three Rivers District Council (2017)
- Teacher CPD training, The Higgins Museum & Harpur Trust, Bedford (2017)
- Cutty Sark, Royal Museums Greenwich, London (2017)
- University of Bedfordshire Aspire Day (2017)
- Biddenham School, Bedfordshire (2017)
- Beauchamp Middle School, Bedfordshire (2017)
- Ursula Taylor Middle School, Bedfordshire (2017)
- Bedford Modern School (2017)
- Challney Girls’ School, Luton (2017)
- Biddenham School, Bedfordshire GCSE Art workshop (2017)
- Beauchamp Middle School, Bedfordshire (2016)
- Margaret Beaufort Middle School Bedfordshire (2016)
- Harrold Priory Middle School Bedfordshire (2016)
- Joan of Arc School Hertfordshire A Level Art workshop (2016)
- Artistsmeet Gallery adult weaving workshop (2016)
- CLEY15 workshop at the North Norfolk coast arts festival (2015)
- Stratton Upper School Bedfordshire Arts Weekend (2015)
- Flotsam Weaving workshops at Bromham Mill, Bedfordshire (2014)
- Watford Museum Half Term weaving workshop (2014)
- St Francis’ School Artist in Residence supporting a variety of lessons (2013/4)
- Artists Access to Art Colleges Residency at North Herts College (2012/13)
Publications & Articles
- Jo Atherton’s Flotsam Weaving, Royal Museums Greenwich blog (2017)
- A Beguiling Arrangement, Interview for Pieced Work (2017)
- Chronicles of the Anthropocene – Featured article in Elementum – A journal of Nature & Story, Edition Two (2017)
- Sea blindness or ocean optimism? – Professor Isaac Land, Port Towns & Urban Cultures blog (2016)
- Jo Atherton’s Anthropocene Prints – Professor Roger Wotton, Natural History, Creation & Religious Conflicts (2016)
- Hertfordshire Life Featured interview – Weaving Our Story (May 2016)
- Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Feature – Lost & Found: The ebb and flow of weaving with flotsam, Vol 252 (2015)
- Environmental Management From Waste to Art (2014)
- Bedford Times & Citizen Inspirational talks at TEDxBedford (2014)
- Bedfordshire on Sunday – Ocean art in airport exhibition (2014)
- Fiber Art Now In Focus – winner of Wanderlust competition (2014)
- Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Notebook – Vol 251 (2014)
- Bedford Times & Citizen Artist inspired by sea flotsam captures it in tapestries (2014)
- Bedfordshire on Sunday Flotsam and jetsam from the shore are all part of sea life’s rich tapestry (2014)
- Newquay Voice Flash Mob beach cleans planned (2014)
Residences
- Artist on Residence for the eXXpedition crew at the Cutty Sark, Greenwich (2017)
- Brisons Veor, Cape Cornwall (2016)
- Brisons Veor, Cape Cornwall (2015)
- St Francis’ School, Letchworth, Hertfordshire (2013 – 2014)
- AA2A selected artist at North Hertfordshire College (2012 – 2013)
Art Fairs
- Childwickbury Christmas Market, Hertofrdshire – Selected (2013)
- Waddesdon Artists & Makers Fair, Buckinghamshire – Selected (2013)
- Romsey Art Fair, Cambridge – Selected (2013)
- The Oxford Art Fair – Selected (2013)
- Childwickbury Arts Fair, Hertfordshire – Selected (2013)
- Childwickbury Christmas Market, Hertfordshire – Selected (2012)
- Childwickbury Arts Fair,Hertfordshire – Selected (2012)
- Living Crafts, Hertfordshire – Selected (2012)
- Childwickbury Christmas Market, Hertfordshire – Selected (2011)
Fellowships
- Artist Fellow at Digswell Arts (2011 – 2013)
Radio interviews
- BBC Three Counties Radio – April 2016
- BBC Radio Cornwall – February 2015
- Source FM, Cornwall – December 2014
- BBC Three Counties Radio – October 2014
- BBC Three Counties Radio – July 2013
- BBC Three Counties Radio – September 2012
Related professional activity
- Prior to being awarded my Fellowship at Digswell Arts and embarking on life as an artist full time, I worked for ten years as a Web Editor and Designer for a variety of organisations including the British Library, the British Academy of Film & Television Arts, University College London and Cancer Research UK.
- In 2006 I worked on a volunteer project at the Terracotta Army Museum in Xi’an, China. My Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification enabled me to work with the local community and learn about Chinese traditions and crafts on an epic scale and interact with local communities.
Flotsam Weaving 