Agnis Smallwood is a designer/maker/educator specialising in weave. She designs and weaves her own woven textiles from her home studio in Leeds including wearable accessories like scarves and snoods, products for home interiors including table placemats and runners, as well as work for exhibitions.

Agnis is passionate about facilitating opportunities which enable participants of all ages and experience to engage and explore the traditional craft of weaving for themselves. This can be in galleries, museums, or at schools and community groups.

Whilst studying for her Arts Foundation Course Agnis discovered the limitless possibilities that weaving offers; when colour and weave structure are intertwined together. Agnis graduated in 2009 from Cumbria Institute of the Arts, with a BA in Contemporary Applied Arts and later in 2017 with an MA in Artist Teachers and Contemporary Practices from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Agnis loves the mathematical nature of weaving, combined with the creative freedom to incorporate colour and texture in limitless ways. At the heart of her work is her obsession with colour, and all the possibilities this offers. She often draws on the natural world and landscapes for inspiration, paying attention to the overlooked and forgotten, like the plants and grasses that grow between the cracks in pavements or on wastelands. She often finds a surprising beauty within the vibrant and striking colours that can be found within nature which become the inspiration for her collections of work.

Agnis’ vegetable inspired collection of scarves grew during lockdown when Agnis was not able to go for walks and explore outside as she usually does. The collection includes Potatoes, Leeks, Tomatoes, Radish and Carrots. This year a new collection has followed in the form of a series of table runners and placemats inspired by fruits, including Berries, Watermelon, Citrus, Kiwi and Figs.