Jane McCann

Open Studio Weekend

Sat 9 and Sun 10 Aug 2025, 12noon - 4pm

For more details email: jane.mccann47@gmail.com 

jane-mccann.co.uk 

Visit Jane McCann's Open Studio

The inspiration for my creative work comes primarily from the location of my 'home studio' in Donaghadee - with iconic 1960s architecture - situated on the edge of a beach with islands opposite and the ever changing colours and textures of land and sea scapes. The flora and fauna, through the seasons, along with flotsam and jetsam, help to inform my creativity.

My focus on functional and inclusive garment development has always been driven by fibre and textile innovation - spanning from natural fibres and fabrics to lightweight technical materials. With the rapid increase in the impact on the environment of clothing and textile processing, from creation to end of life - as well as my being very aware of the encroaching ocean - my focus continues to be on moving towards more responsible and sustainable design development process that aims for ageless and enduring style as opposed to transient fashion. The visitor experience will include an illustrated talk, explaining the background to my work, and rapidly growing global textile and clothing challenges, with my overall message being "Less is More".

My creative work, that is often collaborative, will be exhibited in different 'zones' within the house, including both practical studio space and spaces with inspirational objects and materials. This will include my photo books and artefacts. My exhibits will comprise both completed garments as well as work in progress. Many will be from flax / linen projects and others will include my emerging more technical clothing developments. Some may be for sale but should normally be ordered. Others garments will be for exhibition only. Payment for sales may processed by Tap and Pay (Square).

There will be emphasis on the importance of my on-going collaboration with designer makers both locally and abroad along with the value of inspiration that results from design research and the sharing of skills through travel. In particular, since my past EU academic-based projects and exchanges, I have benefited from on-going collaboration that has evolved with my Finnish textile and clothing colleague, Sirpa Mörsky. Primarily our focus has been on linen and flax fibre with much of our creative output featured in garments and other products during Creative Peninsula exhibitions and workshops. Our most recent linen garments have been produced from prints that have evolved through engagement in Festival Exchange between Creative Peninsula and Art Orienteering, Tampere, Finland. This British Council initiative brought local textile artist, Ruth Osbourne, with her original nature printing techniques, to Finland that in turn merged with Pirjo Seddiki's paintings and drawings that has resulted in digitally printed linen fabric.

Visiting this home studio environment offers the the visitor a unique opportunity to gain creative inspiration.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible on the ground floor, for most exhibits, and my talk(s), but not upstairs.
A toilet is available, and adequate parking in driveway for 8 cars.