Student Stories: Sophie Devereux

Hello – Bonjour, I’m Sophie, I’m French, and I live and work in England. I’ve just

finished unit 3.2 (External Projects) and am preparing for assessment, at the same

time as starting unit 3.3 (Major Project) of the BA (Hons) Textiles course.

What is your previous educational experiences and what drew you to OCA?

My education, in France, was quite traditional, but inside me was someone who

wanted to experiment and express herself creatively. Questioning this, I realised that

it was in my day-to-day proximity to textiles that I saw a medium to achieving this.

What OCA brought was an intellectual and imaginative framework to help me

develop my thinking and push the boundaries of my (at the time) early emerging

practice. As a full-time worker the flexibility and approach to study of OCA was an

ideal way to structure this learning and to come into contact with like-minded

students and great tutors. It’s only once I started the course that the world of textiles

really opened up to me. I now feel fully vindicated in choosing OCA as my gateway

to achieving that early ambition.

Can you describe your OCA journey?

I dipped my toe in the water with the foundation course. I loved it. Whilst it takes a

broad view of art – even beyond textiles – it ticked all the right boxes. It was creative

and experimental. It turned my kitchen into a studio! One exciting thing this did was

to make me question what ‘textile’ means. I was keen to go beyond conventional

definitions and to push the boat out as I started on Stage 1. OCA has allowed me to

do this. It is not prescriptive. In the early days, I used found materials to reflect on the

valuable role of refugees, making wearables from discarded materials. I began to

develop a range of techniques such as distorting surfaces and burning paper to

communicate ideas – in those cases destruction and memory loss.

I’ve always enjoyed the research that leads to new understandings and the making

side of my practice. For that reason my essay on ‘imperfection’ and ‘my literature

review’ on capturing the intangible in textiles have been real highlights for me. I’ve

just finished the dissertation that builds on these and informs my stage 3 creative

practice.

In stage 3, I’m exploring the intangible qualities of place. I pose questions such as:

how do we capture the linked ideas of decay and time; how do I use materiality to

convey a sense of place; and what techniques best suit communicating abstract

qualities? I’m doing all this amongst the silt and rust ships of the Severn Estuary. I

have a link below to my Instagram account and would love to hear any thoughts you

have.

Can you describe the tutor/ peer support at the OCA?

In a word, incredible. What is important at university is to have a tutor who

challenges the student. I have been guided all the way but not constrained. Rebecca

(programme lead) and Jenny (on 3.1 and 3.2) have been taking me through these

final units with great care, but before that all tutors have also been so encouraging

and supportive. This has been in parallel with making wonderful contacts with other

students on the same journey as me. We are always in contact, and the

advancements of digital technology and social media, complemented by the course

structure, means that the experience of being at OU / OCA is a rich and communal

one.

What does studying with OCA mean to you?

OCA has changed me. It has developed me in terms of my academic ability, my

practice and my confidence. I have learnt to think and to communicate. I realise how

enjoyable learning can be. I have discovered myself as a textile artist and am looking

forward to bringing all this together in unit 3.3 (Major Project).

Any advice?

Be messy, both when making and when thinking – don’t be constrained by

formalities. Experiment. Challenge yourself. Don’t worry when things don’t go to

plan. They won’t – that is when we learn best. It isn’t always easy, but it is always

enjoyable.

Where can we find you?

Instagram: sophie_textiles01