The inspiration:
Primitive Streak was essentially a gift from my sister Kate, at a time when I needed new direction. On a yellow ‘post-it note’ marked with a “?” she sent me a leaflet from the Wellcome Trust announcing a new scheme ‘Sci/Art’ – an initiative to bring artists and scientists together.

What it is:
Kate is a developmental biologist and she showed me her world. We had an idea to design a collection that communicated its wonder to others. Primitive Streak became a work that elucidated the first 1,000 hours of human life in textiles and dress. 27 pieces take the viewer on a journey from fertilisation to the recognisable human form.

What it is doing now:
A double award-winning project, Primitive Streak has toured in 7 countries since 1997, been seen by 3 million people and has been life changing. In collaboration with Creative Partnerships (an initiative of the Arts Council England) it has been used as the blueprint for a ’Creative Lab’, a concept which is now being replicated across the UK. It provides unique curricular inspiration for new teaching and learning. In November 2008 Creative Youth Partnerships (CYP) in Northern Ireland and the University of Ulster hosted a mini exhibition of Primitive Streak in Belfast. A Province wide education programme led by Lesley Quinn from CYP is now underway and will culminate in March 2009 in a public exhibition. Please also see the news page. Other exhibitions are being considered for 2009.

A new film of Primitive Streak in Belfast by Ciaran Humprhies is available to view here