Alice Burnhope is an award-winning textile artist and artist educator based at Cockpit Studios, London. Her artistic practice explores sustainability, community engagement, and the sensory human experience through tactile, immersive artworks.
Often drawing inspiration from rocks and geological formations, Alice’s creations reflect themes of connection to nature and mental wellbeing. She specialises in repurposing waste materials and employing traditional craft techniques such as natural dyeing, embroidery, patchwork, quilting, and pattern cutting, creating thoughtful and resourceful pieces that spark conversations around the environmental impact of textiles.
Central to Alice’s work is the tactile human experience and haptic perception— how individuals engage with and respond to the textural qualities of her art. Her interactive installations and wearable sculptures invite participants to touch and activate the pieces, immersing themselves in the work to unlock therapeutic benefits. Alice’s inspiration stems from her own sensory experiences in nature, where she explores its profound ability to improve mental health and foster deeper connections.
As a socially engaged artist, Alice works closely with communities to co-create immersive installations and sculptural artworks. Her collaborative process empowers participants to share their stories and amplify their voices, creating inclusive spaces that nurture wellbeing and connection. Alice has worked with a wide range of groups, including people with disabilities, those living with dementia, and marginalised communities.
Alice’s work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across the UK and internationally, including institutions such as Arthouse Jersey, Hayward Gallery, and Alexandra Palace. She has also facilitated creative workshops for high-profile
clients such as Buckingham Palace, The Royal Horticultural Society, The British Museum and Royal Academy of Arts, using art as a tool to inspire, connect, and create meaningful change.
2025
2025
2024
2024
Highlights
Award
2025 ‘Repair, Reuse, Recycle’ – Grant from Lewisham Council, London
2024 Shortlisted for ‘Inclusive Design Residency’ – Victoria & Albert Museum
2023 Scouted for a maker role – TV Show ‘Repair Shop’
2022 Shortlisted for The Fine Art Textile Prize 2022 – supported by The Open College of the Arts
2022 Awarded – Cockpit Textile Prize 2022
2021 A-N Artists Bursaries 2021 – Time Space Money
2021 Loughborough University – Founder’s Club Grant
2021/22 Awarded ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ Grant – from Arts Council
2021 Nominated – By Tamsin Blanchard for ‘2022 Arts Foundation Futures Award for Materials Innovation, focused on participatory and co-created theatre’
2020 Awarded – ‘Make It at Cockpit Arts 2021’
2020 ‘One to Watch’ – Youth Crafts Council
2016/20 ‘Sarabande Foundation Scholarship’ – Sarabande Foundation, founded by Lee Alexander McQueen
2016 ‘John Mack Foundation Prize’ – Loughborough University
2014 ‘The Samantha Malbon Memorial Trophy’ – For Art and Design
2010 Art Scholarship – St Dominic’s Grammar School, Brewood
Exhibition
2025 Upcoming – London Craft Week – Felt Collection & Peanut Vendor
2025 ‘Mother Earth’ – Galeri Caernarfon, Wales
2025 ‘Sustainable Textile Futures: Contemporary Textiles Responses to Traditional Japanese Craft’ – Embassy of Japan, London
2024 ‘Collective Forms’ – In collaboration with Henry Moore Foundation and community groups, Henry Moore Foundation, Hertfordshire
2024 ‘Threads of Nature’ – Exhibition in collaboration with Royal Horticultural Society for ‘Gardens of Imagination’ Programme at Hartslane, Lewisham, London
2024 ‘A Textile Assembly’ – Group Show Curated by Craft Show, London Craft Week at Staffordshire Street Gallery, Peckham, London
2024 ‘Land & Us | La Tèrre Et Nous’ – ArtHouse Jersey Capital House, Jersey
2023 ‘Murmuration’ – Installation for Lewisham Borough of Culture, Forest Hill Library, Lewisham, London
2022 The Knitting & Stitching Show – London and Harrogate
2022 The Festival of Quilts – NEC Birmingham
2022 ‘When Waste Meets Design’ – Exhibition at Arthouse Jersey
2022 ‘Soft Dialogue’ – With Soft Collective, during London Craft Week, The Department Store, Brixton
2022 Artwork for Sale – ‘Louise Bourgeois: The Woven Child’ Exhibition at the Hayward Gallery
2021 ‘Crown Shyness’ – SKT Spaces at The Halley, Haggerston, London
2021 ‘In the Wild’ – The Artist Lounge
2021 ‘Fashion Season’ – LCB Depot, Leicestershire
2021 ‘Rising Stars 2021: Call for Early Career Makers’ – New Ashgate Gallery, Surrey
2020 ‘Home(work)’ – ArtHelix Gallery, New York in partnership with SHIM Art Network and The Social Distance Art Project
2020 ‘Feet on the Ground, Head in the Sky’ – Modern Painter, New Decorators, East Midlands
2020 ‘Design Season 3’ – Showcase at LCB Depot, East Midlands
2020 Solo Exhibition ‘Harmony’ – Gallery No.32, London
2020 ‘Complication’ – Exhibition at Eclectic Magazine
2020 ‘Earth’ – Exhibition at Round Lemon
2020 ‘Online Degree Show’ – Loughborough University Creative Arts, East Midlands
2018 – 2020 Designs Selected – Première Vision, Paris
2017 ‘Making History’ – Exhibition at Charnwood Community Centre
2016 ‘Transparency and Layers’ – Installation exhibited at Loughborough University
2016 Foundation Year Postcard Art Show – Exhibited at Loughborough University
Residencies
2023/24 ‘Land & Us | La Tèrre Et Nous’ – ArtHouse Jersey, Jersey
2023 Maker in Residence – Goya Design Studio, Peckham, London
2022 ‘When Waste Meets Design’ Exhibition – Arthouse Jersey, Jersey
2022 London Borough of Culture – Artist in Residence for the Day, Lewisham, London
2021/23 ‘Make It’ Maker – Cockpit Studios Deptford, Lewisham, London
2020 Modern Painters, New Decorators – East Midlands
Press
2024 Evening Standard, May – London Craft Week 2024: 10 things to see and do for the 10th anniversary celebration
2024 ITV NEWS, March – Art exploring our relationship with the land around us
2024 The Sunday Telegraph, January – “Murmuration”
2024 Royal Horticultural Society – Exploring the healing power of gardens through art
2024 ACAVA – Meet Alice Burnhope, Make and Reuse course facilitator
2024 Stitch Club – Alice Burnhope: Sensory stitching
2023 The Thread, June – A Feast for the Senses: Alice Burnhope’s Textile Art
2023 Cockpit Studios, April – Interview
2022 Artist in Pyjamas, November – Interviewing textile artist Alice Burnhope
2022 Selvedge, May – LONDON CRAFT WEEK: SUSTAINABLE FASHION
2022 Crafts of Today – Interview
2022 Hole and Corner – Louise Bourgeois, The Woven Child reviewed by Alice Burnhope…
2021 New Ashgate Gallery – Rising Stars 2021
2021 Toast, May – Reviving and Reinventing | Meet the Artists Behind the TOAST Renewal Auction Pieces
2021 Crafts Council, April – 8 textile artists reimagine archive clothing for the TOAST Renewal Auction
2020 Loughborough University, July – Textiles student creates garments inspired by nature to help those that lack access to green spaces
2019 Sarabande Foundation
2016 Cent – Sarabande