Mary Harper

Mary Harper entered the Central School of Arts and Crafts in 1946 as a textile design student. On completing the course she became an assistant to Mary Kirby and soon after became responsible for all the History of Textiles lectures in the School. She also taught drawing and design as part of the course. She taught at CS until 1985.
She produced her first design for Edinburgh Weavers in 1955 and from then on produced designs for them virtually every year. She also worked for Heals, Coles, Gayonne, Tamesa Fabrics, Whitehead and Sanderson. In 1970 she stopped designing textiles and started etching. These prints were shown and sold in various galleries in and near London.
Mary Harper's husband Robert Addington also a student at the Central School has donated a large collection of work to the Museum Collection including fabric samples, garments, sketch books, paintings, colour slides and photographs.
Author: Catherine Pound/ Robert Addington