Artist Info
Eileen Ellis
Eileen Ellis was a student in the textile department at Central School of Arts & Crafts in between 1952-1954 where she specialised in weaving (she took a National Diploma in the subject).
She taught at Hornsey School of Art (now Middlesex Polytechnic) with Marianne Straub and also taught occasionally at Central School from the late 1950's.
She has had a lengthy and distinguished career beginning at Zika Asher's design studio (1957 - 59) where she worked on printed and woven textiles for the couture market and ranges for Marks and Spencer. In 1960 she and three colleagues formed Orbit Design Group selling print and weave designs for interiors. A decade later Weaveplan was formed by Ellis and Ann Bristow (a later addition to the Orbit group). Bristow left in 1973 and thereafter Ellis directed the studio, employing four designers until 2001 when Weaveplan moved from London and Ellis became the sole designer.
Weaveplan developed the seating fabrics and textile colour strategy for BAA's UK airports, all the textile elements for British Airways and fabrics for, among others, Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, United Airlines and Virgin Airways. In France the TGV's Sud Est trains are also fitted with Weaveplan designed textiles.
Ellis became an RDI in 1984 and received the Textile Institute's Design Medal in 1985. In 2002 she was awarded the Worshipful Company of Weaver's Silver Medal.
The Central Saint Martins Museum and Contemporary Collection has received a generous donation from Ellis of a large number of weave samples spanning her career.