Seren Trodden
Design Crafts BA(Hons)
Swansea College of Art at UWTSD
Graduates: 2026
Specialisms: Contemporary Craft / Storytelling
My location: Swansea, United Kingdom
Seren Trodden
First Name: Seren
Last Name: Trodden
University / College: Swansea College of Art at UWTSD
Course / Program: Design Crafts BA(Hons)
Graduates: 2026
Specialisms: Contemporary Craft / Storytelling
My Location: Swansea, United Kingdom
Website: Click To See Website
About
I have recently graduated with First Class Honours in BA Hons Design Crafts from Swansea College of Art (University of Wales Trinity Saint David). I currently work in a range of different materials - found objects, narural forms, cardboard, fabrics, paper, plastic, as well as more traditional craft media such as glass. The creative process often starts for me with collecting objects, some connected, others apparently quite random, and these materials, forms and textures can bring their own inspriation and motivation to creativity. I have always been inspired by a love of creatures of all sorts, whether natural, fictional or mythical. The notion of animal character, emotion and movement has been a recurring theme through my entire degree, with a passion for reinventing material through new configurations. I am also intrigued by the craft of puppet-making and mechanical movement and sought to capture the nuances of this in my final degree project collection.
This body of work presents a group of puppet creatures made from driftwood and seabird feathers foraged on local Gower beaches. These particular beasts are not based on specific dinosaurs or other animals; they have been imagined through discovery of form, guiding the making process into being. I have selected natural forms which resonated with me and suggested creature body parts. These are then adapted and combined with other sections to build complete figures at various scales. Joint mechanisms allow a sense of life-like movement, made from fabric, wooden dowels and metal hinges, as well as other found ironmongery. They are intended as simple wild-wood, sea-washed puppet creations, with an element of movement worked into their design and fabrication to create both hand-held puppets and strung marionettes. Materials abandoned on the beach by the elements and by society have been revived, reinvented and brought back to life.
Competitions
