ANN ALLISON
Ann had been a bobbin lace tutor, designer and maker since 1980. She had learned the traditional laces from her mother and soon began to adapt old patterns and design new ones. Studying the City & Guilds Lace Course opened up a whole new world of design possibilities, where the strictures of traditional lacemaking could be stretched, manipulated or even broken. In recent years, Ann has experimented with and developed the use of wire in contemporary lace. Her first piece, ‘B-leaf,’ was created for The 98 Lace Group’s exhibition at The Bowes Museum in 2012, and then ‘Fleur’ was selected for the Lace 21 exhibition at Waddesdon Manor.
The intrinsic strength and flexibility of wire lace has great potential and versatility. Work can be flat or formed into three dimensional shapes; can hang against a wall or be suspended in mid-air and allowed to move freely; can be worn as costume jewellery or create large works of sculpture. The exploration continues.
 Leaf litter 2by Ann Allison It fell apart a long time ago 20 x 35 |  Elementsby Ann Allison Each element 48 x 58 |  Knotted (detail)by Ann Allison 110 x 15 |
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 Twirly Whirlyby Ann Allison 80 x 80 |  Shaggy the sheepby Ann Allison |  Moth to mothby Ann Allison 43cmx27cmx10cm |
 Images unwoundby Ann Allison |  Fleurby Ann Allison 30cmx50cmx40cm |  B-Leafby Ann Allison 110cmx50cm Silver-plated wire |
 Horn spiralby Ann Allison |  Shadowy cornerby Ann Allison Logarithmic ovals throwing shadows. Black covered copper wire. Bobbin lace 190x100x50 Exhibited at Shape Shifting, 2014 |  Tea Timeby Ann Allison Inspired by the metal framework of an old cake stand and white wall trellis, which looks like the arched window of a grand old house. Bobbin lace. Exhibited at Inside Out, 2010 60 x 40 x 30 |
 Light laceby Ann Allison In collaboration with Jane Allison Tracing the hand movements of bobbin lacemaking. 81cm x 81 cm. Exhibited at Divergence, 2008 |