Jayne Williams

Jayne Williams studied Textile Design at Batley School of Art in the 1980s before working for eight years as a designer for a local tile company. She then established her own freelance studio, providing design work for the wallpaper and textile industry, including clients such as Graham & Brown, Coloroll, and Mamas & Papas.
Starting with very limited resources, Williams built her practice from a small room above her father’s shop, gradually developing a strong professional reputation. Over time, she expanded her studio and employed other designers, creating a collaborative and energetic working environment while continuing to produce commercial design work.
Her current practice is more materially driven and experimental, returning to a hands-on approach. She works with vintage lace, fabrics, and found textiles, which are dyed in layered tones and built into textured compositions. These materials are then drawn and painted over, before being stitched into place using machine embroidery, creating complex, layered surfaces. Buttons and found details are often incorporated, adding further depth and narrative.