A TOURING collaborative exhibition has arrived at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester, celebrating the life and work of one of most influential designers of the post-war generation, Lucienne Day.

A collaboration between The Gallery, Arts University Bournemouth and the Robin & Lucienne Day Foundation, the original exhibition was part of a year-long nationwide programme of exhibitions (Lucienne Day 100) with events, awards and collaborations to celebrate the centenary of the pioneering designer's birth.

The celebration continues with this exhibition in Cirencester, which opened last week and will run until May 20.

The exhibition tells the story of Lucienne Day’s design career, unfolding in a sequence of photographs drawn from the archives of the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation.

It begins in 1940 with her Diploma Show as a textile student at the Royal College of Art, and the work leading up to her career breakthrough at the Festival of Britain in 1951 with the pioneering ‘Contemporary’ design Calyx.

It continues with her prolific output of patterns for furnishing and dress fabrics, table linen, carpets, wallpapers and ceramics for numerous companies in Britain and abroad during the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.

Lucienne’s “second career” completes the exhibition; in the last two decades of the century she became a designer of handstitched fine art wall-hangings in the new medium she invented and termed ‘silk mosaics’.

This photographic history is complemented by a vibrant display of original silk mosaics and an impressive array of current or recent productions of her designs for curtains, dress fabrics and tea towels, demonstrating the continuing vitality of her design legacy.

In a lifetime of dedicated design practice, Lucienne Day created a body of work which is steadily coming back into commercial production to excite and inspire a new generation.

Beth Alden, CEO New Brewery Arts, said: "We are privileged to be able to be able to share Lucienne Day’s work with our audiences outside London, and to have had the opportunity to work with Paula Day. Lucienne’s work has influenced countless people, including textile designer Vanessa Arbuthnott who is kindly supporting the exhibition.

"Her stylised bird design Dawn Chorus was inspired by Lucienne's work. We hope to inspire current textile and design students with Lucienne's story. We have also worked with renowned tutors to bring a selection of Lucienne Day inspired workshops to New Brewery Arts, which will be taking place during the course of the exhibition.”

Visitors to New Brewery Arts can participate in workshops and talks taking place during the exhibition.

u Lucienne Day: Living Design Exhibition at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester. Open March 17 until May 20. Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. Free entry.