Jo Briscoe enrolled onto her first textiles course at Bradford College in 2017, she had no idea she would eventually become an award‑winning weaver with gallery exhibitions, a studio practice, and a growing artistic identity. What began as “being a knitter” for most of her life, evolved into a deep and unexpected passion for weaving, one that now defines her work.
Jo’s route through higher education has been anything but traditional. She completed a HNC in Textiles just before the COVID 19 lockdown, took a year out, then progressed to the Foundation Degree, followed by another break, and now is working on completing her BA (Hons) Textile Practice Top Up.
“I’ve done the whole thing,” she jokes, yet her journey shows commitment, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace new challenges at every stage.
From Knitter to Weaver: A Path She Never Planned
Before joining Bradford College, Jo would not have described herself as an artist. She had knitted for nearly 60 years, taught as a child by her grandmother, but assumed any formal study would be knitted textiles.
However, when she arrived for her HNC, she learned that knitting wasn’t available that year.
“I was asked if I wanted to do stitch or weave. And I said, well, neither. I don’t know how to weave. And they said, ‘That’s fine, we’ll teach you.’”
That reassurance changed everything. Weaving quickly captured Jo’s imagination: not only because of the techniques, but because of the tutor guiding her.
Having a practicing artist as a tutor meant learning was hands‑on, experimental, and filled with creative problem‑solving.
“Whenever they’d say, ‘this is a difficult technique,’ I took it as a challenge. I’d at least try it.”
This spirit of trying, even when unsure, turned Jo into a skilled and thoughtful weaver.
Recognition, Awards, and a Studio Practice
At the end of her Foundation Degree, Jo nearly didn’t apply for Sunny Bank Mills’ Annual Graduate Exhibition – Ones to Watch.
“I applied the night before the closing date, almost just to say I’d done it.”
Not only was she selected, she won People’s Choice, a remarkable achievement.
The prize: three months of studio space at Sunny Bank Mills, which Jo found transformative.
“It made such a difference being around other artists. I benefitted so much that I decided to stay.”
Jo now rents a permanent studio space at Sunny Bank Mills, where she continues developing the work that is shaping her BA degree.
Exhibitions and What’s Next
Jo’s creative calendar is full.
- She is part of Gathered Threads, a collective formed by former HNC students.
- Together, they will exhibit at Nunnington Hall National Trust property from September to December this year.
- Work from her Foundation Degree, originally inspired by a canoeing trip off the west coast of Scotland, is being shown in The Scottish Gallery next year for its 50th anniversary celebrations.
- Bradford College Summer Show: come along and see her graduate exhibition from the 19th of June to 3rd of July.
For Jo, weaving is no longer a hobby: it’s a thriving part of her future.
Ideas, Research, and the Stories Behind the Cloth
Jo’s inspiration often comes from the unseen or overlooked, from satellite images of Earth to the hidden histories of colours.
For her BA work, she began with “a joke” about always wearing blue. Researching the colour’s origins led her to indigo, and then to its troubling global history.
“I had no idea how much indigo contributed to the transatlantic slave trade. More than cotton or sugar. I was shocked.”
This discovery shaped her final collection, which explores themes of modern-day slavery within the textile industry. Her work uses recycled denim, symbolic materials, and small take‑away tokens encouraging donations to charities combatting human trafficking.
Her textiles aren’t only beautiful, they carry messages that matter.
Advice to Others Considering the Course
Jo is clear, you do not need to see yourself as an academic or an artist to succeed.
“I can’t draw. My mum did my art homework at school,” she laughs.
“But the course introduces techniques in such accessible ways, drawing with your eyes closed, using oversized tools, focusing on process over perfection. It showed me drawing isn’t reproducing what’s in front of you.”
She praises the course structure, which builds skills step by step, beginning with black and white exploration, then colour study, then more advanced processes.
The part‑time format also made it possible to study while working full‑time as a nurse and raising a family:
“It was a stretch, but if you’re organised, you can do it. The flexibility makes the course accessible. It’s completely changed my life.”
Conclusion
Jo Briscoe’s story is one of rediscovery, resilience, and artistic growth. She entered Bradford College as a lifelong knitter unsure of her place in art education. She leaves as a celebrated weaver with studio space, exhibitions, awards, and a powerful voice within contemporary textile practice.
Her journey shows what can happen when curiosity is nurtured, opportunities are taken, and creativity is given room to grow.