Nicola Henley is a textile artist based near Tuamgraney, East Clare. Originally from Bristol in the UK, she moved to Clare in 1991.
She gained a first class honours degree in Textile Art from Goldsmith’s College, London in 1984 after taking a Foundation Course in Art at Bower Ashton Art College, Bristol in 1983.
Her large scale textile artworks are based on her interest and sketched observations of nature in the wild landscapes of the west of Ireland. She is particularly inspired by birds and their movement, their relationship to the sea, sky and land, and their unique interaction with their environment. She aims to draw our attention to the delicate balance between nature and ourselves.
She has had solo exhibitions in Timeless Textiles Gallery, Newcastle, Australia (2020, 2017, 2015 and 2013); Hibernia, Florida, USA (2006); Galerie Pousse, Tokyo, Japan (1990, 1992 and 1998).
She has participated in group exhibitions: the DCCoI portfolio group show at The Solomon Gallery, Dublin (2015); ‘Lasting Impressions’, The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI), Kilkenny (2018); and ‘Elemental Fusion’ group show, Croi, Siamsa Tire, Co Kerry, Ireland (2020).
She is a member of Croi Arts; Portfolio DCCoI and TextileArtist.org. She is a recipient of the External Exhibitions Fund, awarded by Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (2016); RDS National Crafts Awards, The William Smith O’Brien Perpetual Challenge Cup and winner in category ‘Established Embellished Textiles’ (2015); ‘Wise Ways Touring’ Arts Council of Ireland (2013).
Her work is included in the following public collections: XL Group, Dublin HQ; Cunard Cruise line; British Crafts Council; Embroiderer’s Guild; British Rail; Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan; Galerie Pousse, Tokyo, Japan; Microsoft Ireland, Dublin; Timeless Textiles, Australia. Since 1990 she has completed many private commissions for individual collectors, both in Ireland, the UK, Australia and the USA.
