I am a theatrical milliner and costume maker with over a decade’s experience, trained at Wimbledon School of Art and have since gained expertise and skills in metal & wire work, dyeing, teaching and supervision.
I specialise in period and unusual millinery and wire-work. I predominately work freelance for theatre and film productions, having worked on projects such as In love with Barbara (BBC4), A Christmas Carol (Northern Ballet Theatre) and Far away (Bristol Old Vic Theatre).
I have been resident milliner at Welsh National Opera since 2005, creating hats and head-dresses for new productions and re-creating items for revivals. My experience during this time has covered such diverse projects as Seven Deadly Sins, Merry Widow and Meistersinger von Nurnberg, as well as costume supervision.
I have taught millinery, wirework and pattern cutting at undergraduate level at both Wimbledon School of Art and Coleg Morgannwg’s Costume Construction for Stage & Screen Foundation Degree. I also run millinery workshops from time to time; if you would be interested in attending one of these, or would like to commission a workshop for your organisation, please contact me for further information or for inclusion on my mailing list.
I am currently studying MA History of Art at The University of Bristol, with a special interest in the Theatre Archives and historical costume. In 2011 I was finalist in International Hat Designer of the Year, which was judged by Elvis Pompilio in Paris,
I am co-founder and the current Chair of the Bristol Art Fringe. BAF organises the Montpelier Art Trail, to great success, and multiple other art shows and exhibitions throughout the year.
ani stafford townsend