David Tudge

David is the Constructed Textiles Technician who looks after all the traditional and digital weaving looms, the domestic knitting machines, the Stoll Industrial knitting machine and its Create Plus software, and the Industrial Dubied knitting machines.

He also looks after the digital embroidery machine and the domestic sewing machines in the Constructed textiles workshop in SG1.

The workshop has a mixture of traditional and digital skills to help develop the students work, my role is to help the students to use the equipment and get them to be independent enough so they can do it themselves.

I am originally from Stockport in the northwest of England, but I have now lived here in Norwich more than my hometown.

I graduated from Norwich School of Art and Design in 1999 with my specialism being in weaving and constructed textiles. I had a specific interest in using simple techniques and non-tradition textile materials to create 3 dimensional structures on the weaving loom.

I was a mural artist for a month straight after graduating, being commissioned to paint a 12mtr long mural for a hotel on the island of Jersey.

I started as the constructed textiles technician in 2000 where I have continually developed my skills to help the students and staff here at Norwich.

I am always learning different techniques in each of my areas of specialism and showing these new skills to the students give me great job satisfaction.

Over the years I would occasionally exhibit my own work around the region, but I now consider my job as technician as my practice.