Angela James


Most of my designs start off with colour, i.e. my initial interpretation of the text is to try and capture the atmosphere of it through colour rather than shape. Much of the design is created as I work, taken from early thoughts in the form of written notes, thumbnail sketches and details of colours to be used. Although much of the finished design is in my head, it is rarely drawn up accurately in advance. To achieve the right colours, I dye, paint or airbrush on tawed or natural skin.

Education
1973-1977 The Eddington Bindery, Hungerford
1970-1972 The Cockerell Bindery, Grantchester, Cambridge
1965-1970 Glasgow School of Art (Degree in Printed Textiles)

Awards
1985 Forwarding Prize in the Prix Paul Bonet, Switzerland
1984 Crafts Council Index of Selected Makers
1975 Elected Fellow of Designer Bookbinders
1974 Thomas Harrison Memorial Award for Bookbinding

Recent exhibitions
2008 Booker 40 at the V & A (opens Sept.9th)
2005-2008 ‘Covered’, Flow Gallery, West London
2006 DB touring exhibition in Japan
Booker Bindings at the British Library
2001 DB touring in North America
2000 Booker Bindings at the British Library

Selected public commissions
2006 City of Liverpool for European City of Culture
Book of Donors, Preston Parish, Lancashire
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth

Selected public collections
Victoria & Albert Museum
The British Library
The Crafts Council Collection
The Royal Library of Sweden
The Royal Library, Copenhagen


Publications
2000 The Handmade Book, (New Holland)
1991 The Art of Binding Books, The Fleece Press

Exhibitions

Archive

2008

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