Oil on board Signed verso 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in.)
£1,200About Dani Trew
Dani Trew (b. 1991 in South Africa, lives and works in London) explores personal mythologies and notions of femininity through her drawings and paintings. Trew studied English Literature at the University of Oxford, and History of Design at the RCA, before starting a PhD on fashion and politics in late 19th century Britain. She also worked as an Assistant Curator in the V&A’s Furniture, Textile and Fashion Department, as a Curatorial Researcher for V&A East, and on a number of Fashion-related exhibitions. In 2015, she was shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award, and in 2023 she graduated from the Royal Drawing School’s postgraduate program.
Influenced by her career as a design historian and curator, as well as her multicultural background, Trew’s drawings and paintings use disparate objects, textiles, and architectural features to examine tensions within internal worlds and narratives. Her work is characterized by exquisite detailing and the fusion of contemporary fashion with these art historical references, creating paintings which have both a sense of stillness and a psychological intensity.
To Make Shirts from Anemones, Trew's first solo show, is on view at Lyndsey Ingram, London through 23 Dec. 2024.
About The Parent House
The Parent House is a non-profit providing mentoring, training and support for parents in Islington, London. The organization helps parents to enter employment, enhance their qualifications and professional training, and improve their mental wellbeing. It is a lifeline for many families in Islington, where 47% of children are currently living in poverty.
Dani Trew
Born 1991 in South Africa. Lives and works in London, UK.
University of Oxford, BA in English Literature
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, Central Saint Martins, UK, 2011
MA, Royal College of Art, 2018
The Royal Drawing School, 2023
Solo Exhibitions
Group Exhibitions
Collections
Over and over, a poem by Evie Ward
The title of the show was inspired by the writings of the French philosopher and activist Simone Weil (1909-1943). As a young woman, Weil analysed ‘The Fairy Tale of the Six Swans,’ by the Brothers Grimm, which tells the story of a sister who silently sewed shirts from anemones to return her brothers to human form after they are turned into swans, drawing parallels in the narrative with the silence of women throughout history and their longstanding connection with textile production.
The lines I write with
but cannot draw
with or the other way round
something I can’t tell you
you tut then pout
I’m thinking
like cat’s cradle
the one with the circle of string
do it with a friend diving, pinching
taut between our palms
decorated outlines
use her knotted shoelace
we bend the shape
over and over
at each pull, we’re more twisted
and the pattern more confusing,
tracing how we got there
doesn’t make sense to put down here
don’t want to, a but, familiar rhythm at tension,
careful, catch, loss, slack, landing,
transformed, keep close, working like quiet needles
unearthing something visible,
marvelling within reach
my memory is bad when it comes
to the names of each shape we had
different ones and argued, many
for each, it looked simpler and it was the loops
and fingers, nimble ones and clumsy ones
contorting, trying hard, bent into
the space before a clap
we drop the string and start again
between mirrored palms
at the very tips of it all tucked in hair
coiled behind ears that I knew best
Evie Ward
Dani Trew on why she nominated one of London's only providers committed to the wellbeing of parents
"With so many urgent humanitarian and environmental crises happening around the world, I initially found it overwhelming to pick just one charity to support. But then I remembered the essential work The Parent House does for the local community in Islington. My mum was involved in setting up the organisation and worked with the team for years, so I have an intimate understanding of its impact in building a supportive and nourishing community for women from all around the world, who have found themselves living in Islington.
So much of my work is concerned with friendships, sisterhood and daughterhood. So it felt right to choose an organisation for women, by women, that builds community and cuts against the grain of systemic inequality."
— Dani Trew, 2024
The Director of The Parent House reflects on 25 years of helping parents to move forward
One of three large drawings included in Trew's solo show at Lyndsey Ingram, London 18 Nov-23 Dec.
We found out more about the organization serving a central London neighborhood where 47% of children live in poverty.
ARTISTS SUPPORT Dani's solo show opens at the London gallery, Lyndsey Ingram, on November 15th. Dani’s small painting, Opening Move, is included in the exhibition and will be sold to support The Parent House.
Tell me about the organization, and your role there.
GINA CAMPUTARO I’m the Director of The Parent House. We’ve been supporting parents in Islington for 24 years, and I’m proud to say I’ve been part of it from the beginning. Islington is a unique borough—it’s home to both significant wealth and to a stark reality where 47% of children live in poverty. This is why The Parent House exists.
Our story began 25 years ago when a head teacher here was reaching out to parents about supporting their children’s learning. What they discovered was that parents, too, needed support. By empowering parents, we create a ripple effect that ultimately helps their children thrive.
Every parent who walks through our doors comes with their own needs. Some need essentials like clothes for their children; others might need guidance in finding a job. We take the time to get to know each parent, understand their unique strengths, and support them on their individual journeys. Many join our support groups and find relief in connecting with others facing similar challenges.
The Parent House is a nurturing and welcoming space. You’re always offered a cup of tea, and we know you by name—and we remember your children’s names too. Whether you come just once or stay with us over time, our ultimate goal is to help parents move forward confidently.
ARTISTS SUPPORT Can you talk to me a bit about the services that you're providing?
GINA CAMPUTARO We offer one-on-one services for parents that have needs and would like someone to talk to. We might not be able to resolve the issue, but we know where the parent will be able to get the support they need. If they're struggling financially we might be able to offer workshops or hardship grants. Our courses are mostly about building confidence and learning new skills but we also have a project called SEND Friends, which is a support and resource sharing group for parents of children with special educational needs.
ARTISTS SUPPORT And how do you receive your funding for all of this work?
GINA CAMPUTARO The majority of our funding comes through grants and trusts, but we do get some individual funding. We don't get any corporate funding and we get very little unrestricted funding. So something like Dani's donation is really helpful to us, because it's money that we can use without restrictions.
We have a program where parents can request clothes for their children, but then the bags of clothes they receive are too heavy to walk home with and they can't afford the bus. Having money available for these types of scenarios is very impactful.
Parents also often come in hungry; they might feed their children, but they're not feeding themselves. So we sometimes use unrestricted funds to buy healthy foods that we can give out in these situations.
ARTISTS SUPPORT Can I ask what your annual budget is?
GINA CAMPUTARO It's around £285,000 per year. We're not a rich charity by any means but we're really good with money, and we are quite a frugal organization.
ARTISTS SUPPORT And where do your programs and services happen?
GINA CAMPUTARO We have a house in Islington. It was a caretaker's house and it has a garage attached to it, which is our office now. We also have a lovely garden. The building is very small, but we're right in the middle of Islington and we do have a peppercorn rent, so we don't pay any rent for our building.
ARTISTS SUPPORT Are there any other boroughs in London where those in need would find something similar to The Parent House?
GINA CAMPUTARO Not that we know of. What makes us unique is that parents from all different backgrounds, all different ages, come to us with the shared goal of wanting the very best for their children.
ARTISTS SUPPORT What are your plans for The Parent House going forward?
GINA CAMPUTARO We’re working to secure corporate funding and also aiming to expand our peer-led initiatives, which focus on listening to parents and empowering them to find their own solutions. Additionally, we’re enhancing our services for parents of children with special educational needs. Resources are incredibly limited for these children, and the lack of support affects not only them but also their families.
