Emma Jo Webster designs contemporary tapestries using vibrant wools, cottons and silks.
Her imagery draws on emotions and narratives, sometimes incorporating fragments of text. Emma Jo specializes in hand woven portraiture. Through the use of vivid colour and play of light within the surface texture, the tapestries evoke a sense of the passage of time and an infinity of thought.
Emma Jo exhibits both nationally and internationally producing personal work towards exhibitions and also accepts public and private commissions. Emma Jo has also taught tapestry weaving for many years and loves sharing her weaving skills and experience with her students.
Emma Jo Webster
Scottish Artist, born 1967
Education:
Edinburgh College of Art, BA Hons, 1989
Bursaries/Awards:
Nancy Graham Memorial Award, Mar 2007
Theo Moorman Bursary, 1998
Highly Commended, OXO Sainsbury Scholarship, 1998
Residencies:
South Ayrshire Council – Loudon Hall, Ayr, Aug – Nov 1999
Studio work:
The Dovecot Studios Feb 2015 – present
West Dean Tapestry Studio @ Stirling Castle, Mystic August 2013 – Dec 2014
West Dean Tapestry Studio @ Stirling Castle, The Hunt Of the Unicorn, Dec 2001 – Sept 2002
West dean Tapestry Studio for the Hubbard, Sainsbury, Tapestry, Feb – Nov 2001
Media:
‘Imagine’ ‘The Caged Birds Song’ 2017
Sky Arts Portrait of the year award 2013 – Autumn 2013
‘Shetland’ BBC Drama Feb 2013
STV lunchtime news mini documentary 1998
Radio Scotland September 1993
Publications:
Tapestry – a woven narrative 2011
Fibre Arts Design Book 7, 2004
Legacy in Weaving, May 2001
The Guide, Issue Two, Jan 2000
Fibre Arts Design Book 6, Oct 1999
The Guide, Issue One, Jan 1999
Kitchens, Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Feb 1998
Scotland on Sunday, Jan 1995
Glasgow Herald, Nov 1995
House & Garden, Nov 1992
Teaching
Langside College Art Department:
GSVQ Embroidery Jan – Feb 04,03,02; Dec 00 – Jan 01; Nov -Mar 07, 08,09,10
HNC Textiles Nov – March 02,03; Aug – Nov 04,05,06,07,08,09
Colour theory NC Floristry Aug – Nov 05,06,07; Nov 99 – March 00; Nov 98 – March 99; Nov 97- March 98
Strathclyde University:
Evening tapestry weaving classes Oct 97 – Jan 98
Cardonald College:
Evening tapestry classes Oct 96 – Jan 97
Tutoring student placements April 03; April 98; April 97; Oct 96; July – Aug 96; May – June 95
Talks:
Lauriston Lectures August 2014
Newton Mearns Ladies Group, Jan 2004
Ayr Embroidery Group, Oct 2000
Dumfries Spinners, Weavers & Dyers, Sept 2000
East Renfrewshire group, Feb 2000
Stirling Embroidery group, Feb 1998
Friends of RSA, Feb 1995
Eastwood Group, Feb 1995
Selected exhibitions
Solo:
Auld Kirk Museum Dec 12
Emma Jo Webster, Stenton Gallery, Edinburgh, 1999
Chains of thought, MacRobert Art Centre, Stirling, 1997
Group:
Interior Landscapes RSA Edinburgh 2021 Ruth Borchard self portrait award shortlist Coventry Cathedral 2021 Cordis Shortlist Inverleith House Edinburgh March 2019
Kate Derum Tapestry prize Shortlist 2019
Kate Derum Tapestry prize Shortlist 2015
FVOS MacRobert Art Gallery June 2015
VAS -T Feb 2015 Edinburgh
Fate, Destiny and self Determination – Montreal Jan – Feb 2015
Fate, Destiny and self determination – Ontario October 2014
British Tapestry group metamorphosis 2014
VAS RSA Annual Exhibition, March 2013
Auld Kirk Museum, Nov Dec 2012
VAS, Glasgow Art Club, August 2012
GSWA Stirling Smith, Aug 2012
Fife Portrait, Dunfrmline, March 2012
62 Group Knitting & Stitching Show, touring, 2007
VAS Annual Exhibition, RSA Gallery, Mar 2007
GSWA, Lily Art Gallery, Oct 2006
Tapestry Today, Hebden Bridge, June 2006
Affordable Art, VAS Edinburgh, Summer 2004
In Place, 62 Group, Harley Gallery, Nov – Dec 2003
Stenton Gallery, Christmas Show, 2003
VAS show, 2003
A Legacy In Weaving, Leeds University Gallery, May 2001
Out of the Garden, Shipley Art Gallery, May 2000
Tapestry for the millennium, ITNET.com, 2000
Ally Group Show, Bloomsbury London, Jan 2000
San Francisco International Fair, 1999
Year Show – SAAC Edinburgh RSA, Dec 98
British Tapestry, Harley Gallery, June 1998
Oxo Tower, Sainsbury Short List, April 1998
Elvis Lives, Projectability, Feb 1998
Stenton Gallery, Nov 1997
Language of Touch, Collins gallery / Shire Hall, 1997
New Collectables, Loft Gallery, June 1997
Small Format http://www.alaska.net/~itnet
Doug Cocker & Emma Jo Webster, Hughson Gallery, June 1996
Woven Image, Barbican Centre & touring, 1996 -1997
Local Artist, Hughson Gallery, June 1995
Chelsea Craft Fair, Oct 1994
Burrell, June19 94
Material Wealth, 62 Group, Halifax Touring Exhibition, Japan & Commonwealth Institute, 1992 – 1993
Thread of Inspiration, 62 Group Tour, Belfast & York
Emma Jo Webster & Rachel Charlton, Crawfords Art Centre, St Andrews, 1991
All that Glisters, Hampton Court, 62 Group, 1991
Interiors & Architecture, Allen Park Gallery, 1991
Loose Ends, Close Ties & Other Structures, Talbot Rice Arts Centre, 1988
Major commissions:
Robin Webster commission 2020 Crawford private commission Luing 2020 Biddy private commission 2019 LUV commission London 2019 Ethel private commission London 2018 Vita private commission 2017 Ali private commission 2016 Glasgow Finlay private commission London 2015 Isabel, private commission 2013 Glasgow
Katie, private commission 2013 Glasgow
Banjo, private commission, 2012, Edinburgh
Emily, private commission, 2012, Glasgow
Honey, private commission, 2012, Glasgow
Lyle, private commission, 2011, Glasgow
Fiona, pair of portraits, private commission, 2007/08, Luing
Kate, tryptich private commission, 2005/06, Glasgow
Neven, private commission, 2004, Koeln
The Boys, 3 portraits, private commission, 2004, Glasgow
Luing, private landscape tapestry, 2000, Luing
Trades of Ayr, South Ayrshire Council, Aug – Nov 1999
Ex Memoriae, July 1999, Aberdeen
Equilibrio, Lansdown private commission, 1999, Leeds
Rozna Dolina, presentation commission, Jan 1999, Ljlubliana, Slovenia
A.C.N.Rogers, private portrait commission, 1998, Stirling
Je te donne mon amour, private commission, 1997, Singapore
Kircudbright, private commission, 1996
W.H.Reid, private commission, 1995, Glasgow
KWD, private commission, 1995, Edinburgh
Cover me over, private commission, 1995, London
Sweet Afton, Ayr Hospital (health care arts), 1994/95
Nox sideribus illustris, private commission, 1993, Glasgow
Let Glasgow Flourish, Ross Hall Hospital, 1991
