Graphic Design
Multimedia
Digital Prints
Workshops and Projects
Tapestry Design and Weave
Graphic Design
Multimedia
Digital Prints
Workshops and Projects
Tapestry Design and Weave
Alastair Duncan was born in Scotland. He lived and was educated in Northern Ireland and trained at Cleveland College of Art.
Whilst artist in residence at the Dovecot Arts Centre in Stockton-on-Tees, he won the John Holden Memorial Craft Commission for the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Since then he has been selected as Artist in Residence by a number of museums and schools. Moving to Wales in the 1980s, he established a studio in Swansea`s Maritime Quarter and went on to develop his work as a professional artist/craftsman in both the commission/public art field and in education. He has completed numerous commissioned tapestries for the corporate, private and public sectors and has exhibited widely both in Britain and Internationally. In 1995 he helped jury the 1st triennial British Tapestry Exhibition and Conference at the Harley Gallery, Notts. Since 1989 his work in education has concentrated on developing workshops in design through tapestry weaving in primary schools. His current work in tapestry combines weave with barbed wire. Alastair also works with multimedia - see below.
Statement
My current work in tapestry weaving has been gradually developing over the past ten years. Previous to this I worked my designs out in detail usually on paper. However, working with wire and barbed wire, I have found it more natural to develop my ideas in my mind first and then try them out directly in tapestry. Development of my work in this way tends to be slower which is not always convenient, but I find it suits me well and allows a more natural growth.
My ideas for tapestries come from a number of sources. The larger themes are conflict and regeneration but I am largely influenced by my background in Northern Ireland, the growth of my family and a special place in Scotland!
Multimedia
Since 1995 his work has extended to multimedia, digital prints and graphic design and he has completed many projects both personal and educational. These have included working with graphics, digital photography, sound, video, and the production of interactive CD ROMs, DVDs and websites.
Alastair's work with Swansea Education Effectiveness Service has developed strongly over the past five years and he is currently producing a series of Transition CD ROMs for Swansea Comprehensive Schools and their feeder Primaries. He also maintains the Swansea Arts in Education website (www.artsedswansea.org.uk)
He works in multimedia with community groups and most recently the "Power People Pobl y Pwr" CD ROM for Talybont-on-Usk Energy and with HyperAction on the Vale Plus project with a group of 15 people with special needs.
Alastair has collaborated with HyperAction on many other projects including "Thornhill Through the Wormhole", a history of Thornhill, Cwmbran from Roman times up and into the future and "The Glory of the Garden", another school based project focusing on the links between St. Joseph's Primary School, Penarth and their local Allotment Society and “Launch the Lifeboat! - Stories of Wreck and Rescue in the Bristol Channel”, a project with five primary schools and five RNLI lifeboat stations along the South Wales coast.
For more information on the HyperAction projects, please visit http://www.hyperaction.org.uk
Alastair Duncan - Design Fibre ICT, has over 20 years experience working in the fields of education, design, multimedia and weave.
These skills are often put to combined use in the many and varied projects and products illustrated here.
Quality and interactivity with project participants and clients are paramount in all of the work we do.