Who we are
Alan Shaw BA Hons Printed Textiles, MDes Printed Textiles
Industry Coordinator
Alan Shaw was born in Ballymoney, N.Ireland and studied textiles at Glasgow School of Art. During his MDes, Alan spent five months working at Coats Viyella where he worked on Stork TCP printers and the initial trialling of the Stork Amethyst production printer. The resulting new knowledge was used to showcase his collection of interior prints. On completion of his MDes Alan took up a post at GSA, compiling technical research for the successful SHEFC funding application. This resulted in the Centre for Advanced Textiles (CAT) being established in 2000.
Alan’s role involves collaborative research, textile consultancy and management of the Centre’s commercial activity. His research interests include investigating the role of facilitating designers/makers to integrate digital technology into their practice, helping to address perceptions of the technology and transferring acquired knowledge and skills.
Before working at CAT, Alan spent four years with Glasgow textile printing firm Timorous Beasties overseeing print production and finishing. He has lectured at various Scottish colleges and continues to design and produce textiles on a freelance basis.
Vicky Begg B Des (Hons) Printed Textiles, MA Textile Design
Bureau Coordinator
Vicky attained her B Des (Hons) in Printed Textiles from Duncan of Jordanstone College in 1995 and her MA Textile Design from Winchester School of Art in 1996. Her Masters level research focused on the use of reflective printing pigments in disperse dyes for sportswear. Initially a Printed Textiles Lecturer on the BA (Hons) European Textile Design course at Bradford college, Vicky became the Course Tutor overseeing all aspects of the course from design to foreign languages. In 1999, through maintaining cose links with industry whilst at Bradford College, Vicky went on to establish one of the UK’s first digital fabric printing services with RA Smart Ltd.
The Fabric Printing Bureau operated under Vicky’s Directorship until 2002 serving a vast array of clients in design and design related industries, from haute couture to exhibition design. In May 2002, Vicky joined the Centre for Advanced Textiles as Bureau Co-ordinator to consolidate her expertise with that of Alan Shaw and the CAT team, in promoting the digital fabric printing technology as a commercial, educational and research facility.
Laura Boomer B Des (Hons) Textile Design, MDes Textiles as Fashion
Bureau Assistant
Laura joined The Centre for Advanced Textiles in June 2009 as the centre’s administrator.
Prior to her role at CAT, Laura gained her MDes textiles as Fashion and her BA Hons in textiles at The Glasgow School of Art. Laura also studied at Cardonald College where she completed an HND in stitched textiles and fashion.
As well as working at CAT, Laura works as a textiles tutor for South Lanarkshire Council and also as a coordinator for an events company.
