Jan Beaney: From Conception to Creation

When it comes to textile art, many of you will be familiar with the name of Jan Beaney. Often heard alongside that of her friend and fellow textile artist, Jean Littlejohn, together they make up the publishing company Double Trouble Enterprises – originating from a nickname given to them whilst working together in Australia. Established in 1997, the company markets a successful range of books, DVDs and digital workshops, all designed to give students the confidence to design and create their own unique work.

Fascinated by landscape in all its forms, Jan has long specialized in this area. Observation is key to her work and her mantra ‘the more you look, the more you see’ encourages her – and her students – to notice fleeting changes of light and subtle nuances that can be simplified or exaggerated in her textile work.

Jan has been a lecturer since 1959, is a seasoned exhibitor and has run workshops in the UK and around the world. Her list of accolades is endless: she is the longest-serving member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists having joined in 1963, is an Honorary Member of City and Guilds, an Honorary Member and past President of the Embroiderers’ Guild, and a Fellow of Society of Designer Craftsmen – to name but a few. She once had her own series on embroidery on the BBC.