​Biography
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Tori McLean is a multidisciplinary artist, based in Winchester and London, working across print, sculpture and installation. Her practice explores the shifting boundaries between analogue and digital states and uses the language of childhood play to engage audiences with complex themes around female value through interactive and often playful works.
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Originally trained in Business and IT, with a PhD in Applied Economics, McLean worked as a business consultant before a breast cancer diagnosis prompted a creative career change. She retrained in Garden Design and Fashion & Textile Design, which led to a successful career as a freelance surface pattern designer. She has recently earned an MA in Print from the Royal College of Art, deepening her material and conceptual practice.
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McLean’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in the collections of the V&A, Hampshire Cultural Trust, and private collectors worldwide. She is an elected member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and a member of the Printmaker’s Council and East London Printmakers. Her accolades include the Designext International Grand Prize (New York), the Elle Decoration/B&Q Textile Design Award, and the SDC Distinction Award. Special commissions include projects for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Hampshire Cultural Trust. She is a 2025/26 recipient of the Travers Smith CSR Art Programme.
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CV
Born 1969, Cambridge, UK.
Resides in Winchester and works in Winchester& Londonr, UK.
Notable exhibitions: RCA Battersea, London, UK; Southwark Park Galleries, London, UK; Bankside Gallery, London, UK; Mall Galleries, London, UK; Surtex, New York, USA.
Collected by: Victoria & Albert Museum, UK; Hampshire Cultural Trust, UK.
Education
2024-20255: MA Print, Royal College of Art.
2011-2014: BA Fashion & Textile Design (1st), Winchester School of Art/Southampton University.
2007-2010: FdSc Garden Design (Distinction), Portsmouth University/Sparsholt College.
1993-1998: PhD, ‘Analysing Competitive Markets Through Consumer Choice’ Nottingham Trent/Solent University.
1988-1992: BSc Business Information Technology (1st), Kingston University.
Training
2016-2017 Diploma in Printmaking, Red Hot Press, Southampton.
2015-2016 Foundation in Printmaking, Red Hot Press, Southampton.
2012-2025 Print Masterclasses with Dale Devereux Barker, Paul Catherall, Sarah Campbell, Mary Dalton, Kate Dicker, Fiona Fouhy, Akiko Fujikawa, Dan Heath, Jason Hicklin, Ali Lanya, Angie Lewin, Ann Norfield, Suzie Perry, Trevor Price, Heike Roesel, Mustafa Sidki, Jane Sampson, Jane Stobart, Susie Turner, Charles Shearer, Liorah Tchiprout, Sue Timney and Sally Tyrie.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2025, Pattern & Progress, City Space Gallery, Winchester.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025, RCA Summer Show 2025, RCA Battersea, London.
2025, InBetweens, Southwark Park Galleries, London.
​2024 InVisible, Hockney Gallery, London.
2024 Designer Craft at Bankside, Bankside Gallery, London.
2024 Small Wonders, Jack House Gallery, Portsmouth.
​2023 Festival of Print, The Art Pavilion, London.
2023 Royal Society of Marine Artists, Mall Galleries, London.
2023 Portsmouth Printmakers, Jack House Gallery, Portsmouth.
2023 Wonder, Oxmarket Contemporary.
2023 Portsmouth Printmakers, Imagination Refinery, Portsmouth.
2023 Hot of the Press, Hillier Gallery, Romsey.
2023 Ochre Print Summer Exhibition, Adam’s Gallery, Reigate.
​2022 Festival of Print, The Art Pavilion, London.
2022 Cowprint 10th Exhibition, City Art Gallery, Southampton.
2022 Transformations, Bankside Gallery.
2022 Cutting a Fine Line, God’s House Tower, Southampton.
​2021 3 Printmakers, Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester.
2021 Mayflower 400, God’s House Tower, Southampton.
2021 Open Art Exhibition, Red House Museum, Christchurch.
2021 Derby Print Open, Online Exhibition.
2021 Open Art Exhibition, Allen Gallery, Alton.
2021 Red Hot Press Printmakers, Hillier Gallery, Romsey.
2021 Flower Power, Yellow Edge Gallery, Gosport.
​2020 Vivid, Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester.
2020 Beyond Four Walls, Oxmarket Contemporary.
2020 Mayflower 400, Inky Hands Gallery, Massachusetts, USA.
2020 Open Art Exhibition, Gosport Gallery, Gosport.
2019 Summer Exhibition, Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester.
2019 Red Hot Press Printmakers, Hillier Gallery, Romsey.
​2019 Inspired: Creative Collections, City Space Gallery, Winchester.
2018 Hand of the Maker, Triangle Gallery, London.
2018 Inspired: Creative Collections, Willis Museum, Basingstoke.
​2017 Pots & Prints, Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester.
2017 Journey Through Print, City Art Gallery, Southampton.
2017 Red Hot Press: Making A Mark, Rum’s Eg Gallery, Romsey.
2017 Red Hot Press Printmakers, Hillier Gallery, Romsey.
2016 CityMade, Rivington Street Gallery, London.
2016 Neo:Print Prize, Gallery 23, Bolton.
2016 25th Designer Crafts, Mall Galleries. London.
2016 Red Hot Press Printmakers, Hillier Gallery, Romsey
2016 Red Hot Press Foundation Show, Corn Exchange, Southampton.
2015 Designer Crafts, Mall Galleries, London.
2014 Wood & Fibre, Walford Mill, Wimborne.
2014 Designnext, New York, USA.
Selected Collections
Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Hampshire Cultural Trust, Winchester.
Selected Commissions & Collaborations
RHS Chelsea Flower Show & City of London Corporation.
Hampshire Cultural Trust.
British Museum.
Royal Collection Shops.
David Watson.
B&Q.
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Awards & Recognitions
2025 Travers Smith CSR Art Programme Recipient 2025/6.
2025 Printmakers Council RCA MA Printmaking Award – Commendation.
2016 Hillarys Design Award – Finalist.
2015 Society of Designer Craftsmen Distinction Award.
2015 Society of Designer Craftsmen New Licentiate Award.
2014 Designext International Grand Prize, New York.
2013 Purvaai Textile Design Award.
2013 Textile Award, B&Q/Elle Decoration British Talent Search.
Professional Contributions
2025, Guest Lecture & Personal Tutorials, University for Arts, Norwich.
2025, Guest Lecture & group Crits, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham.
​2016-2019 Trustee/Council Member of Society of Designer Craftsmen.
Professional Memberships
2015-2025 Society of Designer Craftsmen MSDC, Elected Member.
2025 Printmaker's Council.
2021-2025 East London Printmakers.
2021-2025 Ochre Print Studio.
2022-2023 Artful Collective, Selected Member.
2022-2023 Portsmouth Printmakers.
2016-2023 Cowprint Artist's Group.
2016-2021 British Print Making Society.
2016-2021 Red Hot Press.
2014-2018 Member of Textile Institute.
