about + contact | ames newton designs

As a designer I have empathy for biodiversity, and I am inspired by the creatures that live among us. I am a multi-disciplinary designer with a unique illustrative style that evolves around storytelling. I love to use a variety of techniques for motif generation, in particular collage and digital drawing. I also love using hand embroidery to translate my fun and playful designs.

I’ve also been enjoying developing my skills and knowledge surrounding sustainable, clean textile processes. I have been exploring naturally dyeing, mordant painting and trying to use clean as possible processes in my work.

Awards / Achievements

Arts Thread | Global Creative Graduate Showcase | 2025 | Shortlisted for a global competition.
GREEN GRADS | 2025 | I've been selected as a Green Grad as my work raises environmental awareness and encourages education regarding biodiversity.
New Designers | 2025| I got recognition from Kindred Greetings, ND Selects + Mothercare.

TEX + | 2025 | Shortlisted

Bradford Textiles Society Design Competition

2025: 1st prize for British Wool Alternative Flooring (carpet, rug) award

2024: 3rd prize for the CIWMT (child print) award

2023: 2nd prize for the Lapa Charitable (hand embroidery) award

Exhibited at

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair | Oct 2025 | Manchester
New Designers | July 2025 | London
Inspired Festival | June 2025 | Birmingham City University
George Saunders Reimagined exhibition | June 2023 - Dec 2023 | Back to Backs National Trust in Birmingham

I hope everyone has a great Christmas! 🎄 Also a big thank you for all the support this year. Sorry for being MIA on this account. I’ve been super busy with my new design job.

#illustration #festiveillustration #designer

You can now buy your own Sidney the Giant anteater wooden toy. They have been completely hand made by me. Each one is unique as they are cut by hand, hand sanded and hand painted using child safe paints. ( @littlegreenepaintcompany )I hope they encourage montessori play and can be used alongside my educational book. They can also be lovely house decorations as I have been told!!

Purchase from my Etsy shop.

#woodentoy #woodenanimaltoy #woodenchildrenstoy #montessori #montessoritoy #montessorieducation #montessoriwoodentoy #handmade #handmadedesign #handmadetoy #toy #childrenstoy #gifting #giftingidea #educationaldesign #animals

I’m excited to announce my new and improved A-Z weird creatures book. I originally created this purely back when I was working as a business administrator. Now as a design graduate I decided to update it with my knowledge in photoshop and my increased confidence in my creativity. This book explores 26 weird and unusual creatures. It is an educational book that I hope you will enjoy!

Purchase from my Etsy story

#kidsreferencebook #referencebook #educationaldesign #educationalbook #animals #animalbook #animaleducationalbook #selfpublished #procreate #digitaldesign #digitaldrawing #design #digitaldesign

After all the amazing feedback and price queries I received at the Manchester craft fair, I have decided to set up a mailing list. If you are interested in my clothing designs and would like to be notified when they get into production / go on sale, then please follow the link below or in my bio and enter your email.

https://www.amesnewtondesigns.com/coming-soon-01

I’m REALLY EXCITED for this opportunity and looking forward to getting my clothing designs into production! Any help and assistance with doing this would be greatly appreciated.

#kidsclothingdesigner #kidsclothing #clothingdesigner #animalkidsclothing #animalclothingdesigns #animaltextiles #textilesdesigner #printdesigner #sustainabletextiles #designer #educationaldesign #organicclothing #sustainableclothing #sustainablefashion

I’ve had an amazing 4 days exhibiting as a Green Grad in the beautiful Manchester Victorian baths. It was lovely to speak to both the public and fellow exhibitors about my work and to receive such positive feedback about my clothing designs.

Thank you to all who bought an item from me, I’m so appreciative. A big thank you to the @greengradsuk team for making this exhibition possible. I’m excited to see what comes from it.

#designer #mixedmedia #sustainable #sustainabletextiles #textilesartist #textilesdesign #GNCCF #greengrads #2025greengrad #kidsclothing #clothingdesigns #animaldesigns #animalstextiles #textilesdesigner #kidstoys #woodentoys #childrensbook #textilesexhibition #exhibition #educationaldesign #educationaltextiles #kidsclothingdesigner

It’s not long now till I’ll be exhibiting as a @greengradsuk at The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Show @great_northern_events northern events.

🗓️ 16th – 19th October
📍Victoria Baths, Manchester
👇Cubicles, pool C

I’ll be showcasing my Anteatering Around collection along with my new educational biodiversity project. I’m excited to talk all about biodiversity and educating our future generations through story telling products. I am going to be exhibiting alongside 24 other talented individuals who have been chosen as 2025 Green Grads.

See you all there where you can also pick up your own Sidney anteater toy and book!

#GNCCF #GREENGRADS #illustrator #exhibiting #woodentoys #childrenbooks #biodiversityeducation #papercollage #gnccf

Macaw club repeat pattern. I love how from afar it looks like a stripe repeat.

#papercollage #collager #collaging #textiles #textilesgradute #collection #textilescollection #animaltextiles #illustration #illustrative #textilesdesigner #blockrepeat #papercollage #collage #animalprints #print #printdesigner #striperepeat #macaw #macaeparrots

In my macaw book I’m including the beautiful Spix macaw. Unfortunately as of 2009 they are extinct in the wild. There are now 364 Spix macaws in captivity and their population is slowly growing. They used to only be found in Brazil and solely relied on the Caraibeira tree hence their extinction.

#papercollage #papercrafts #collage #animals #endangeredanimals #animalawareness #endangeredanimal awareness #illustration #illustrator #funart #macaw #macawart#spixmacaw

A look into how I collage. I am working on my next collection which is all about macaws. Do you like macaws??

I follow a few collage artists and it’s so interesting to see how everyone makes their work differently. I work in a puzzle like way and love to combine paper with digital working. Digital drawing allows me to create bold features that I can’t replicate with paper and pen.

#papercollage #collagework #collageartists #macaws #macawdesign #fundesign #illustrative #illustrativecollage #animalcollage#paperartist

Started working on my new collection which will be all about the beautiful macaws!

Collaging parrots is tricky but I’m enjoying the challenge and I hope you enjoy this journey.

#papercollage #collager #collaging #textiles #textilesgradute #collection #textilescollection #animaltextiles #illustration #illustrative #kidswear

Getting back into collaging ✂️ Thought as I included them in my FMP, I would delve deeper into the beautiful birds that are Hyacinth Macaws 🦜

#collage #collaging #papercollage #animalart #animalcollage #illustration #illustrative

First class honours baby! 🎓I’m so glad that 8 years ago I decided to not go to university because I know I would have never chosen textiles. I spent that time gaining a business administration diploma (Thank you to @clairmw19 who is still so supportive of me) During this time I realised that I wanted to deepen my creative techniques and get a creative job in textiles.

Over these 3 years I’ve completed 12 modules which have pushed me out of my comfort zone. It’s also been a time where I have identified my own unique style which I can finally say I’m am proud of. The late nights and hard work paid off and now I have graduated with a first class. ☺️

Thank you in particular to @__janewatts__ who really made final year amazing. You are so supportive and I think it’s safe to say that we will all miss you! Thank you to all the other lecturers and technicians @textilesbcu for your help and support through these years xxx

My ‘Nests’ carpet design has won the @thebradfordtextilesociety Alternative Flooring Company award! I’m so grateful that they liked my design, which is a lot more abstract than I usually go. Swipe to see the other colour ways. #bradfordtextilesociety #textilescompetition #textiles #textilesstudent #britishwool #britishcarpets

I got to draw little Wilbur for @rosiefleur_textiles. Doing custom drawings is scary but I also enjoy how happy they can make people feel! Swipe to see the drawing process. #petportrait #digitaldrawing #illustrator #procreate

Eeeeek I can finally announce that Anteatering Around is now published and ready to be purchased!! Find the Etsy link in my bio. #selfpublishedauthor #selfpublishedchildrensbook #anteateringaround #childrensbook #educationalpicturebooks #educationalbook #illustrator

New Designers 2025 is over and it was a tiring yet insightful week. It was so nice to speak to industry professionals, the public and my fellow exhibitors. A special thank you to @kindred.cards , @newdesigners selects + @mothercareuk for the recommendations. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ So proud of all the textile girls at @textilesbcu , it’s been an honour to exhibit with you all! It was also amazing to meet and speak to the talented jewellery students. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #NewDesigners25 #ComingtoND #StandT4 #textiles #textilesstudent #London #textilesgraduate #designgraduate #designstudent

Thank you so much to the lovely @kindred.cards team for this recognition! It was so nice to speak to you about my concept / characters and receiving your feedback and enthusiasm for my project. #ND25 #NewDesigners25 #ComingtoND #StandT4 #textiles #textilesstudent #london #designshow

Pieces which use the process I’ve called mordant painting. The process simply shows what iron and vinegar does to naturally dyed fabric. I used this process a lot during my FMP but stopped as the results were not working out. I decided to go back and try now that I don’t have a big deadline. #ND25 #NewDesigners25 #ComingtoND #StandT4 #textiles #textilesstudent #london #designshow #mordantprinting #mordantpainting #naturallydyed #naturallydyedfabric #sustainabletextiles

Anyone want some anteater clothing? I transferred some of my design work onto kids clothing so people can see how my motifs can be used within the fashion industry. These are concepts rather than final designs because I don’t think a paper tree would last! #papercollage #fabriccollage #textilesdesigner #collage #textilesstudent #printdesign #childrensfashion #ND25 #NewDesigners25 #ComingtoND #StandT4 #textiles #textilesstudent #london #designshow #kidsclothing

Adding a new toy style into my collection. Both giant and lesser anteaters will stand up on their hind legs and sway when threatened.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #ND25 #NewDesigners25 #ComingtoND #StandT4 #textiles #textilesstudent #london #designshow #woodentoysforkids #woodentoys #handmade #sustainabletoys #montessori #montessoritoys

Degree show 🥂 After three years I’ve definitely grown within myself both creatively and emotionally. It was lovely to see everyone’s work displayed so nicely and everyone has created amazing FMPs. Now onto New Designers! #textiles #textilesstudent #degreeshow #multimedia #bcu_classof25 #bcuinspired2025 #print #woodentoys #childrensbook #illustration

Here is part 2 to the creation of my XL Sidney anteater. He is now up and ready to be sat on at my university degree show aka Inspired Festival. It will be open from 11th - 20th June. He has been a real labour of love and even though the creation didn’t fully go to plan I’m really proud of the result. #textiles #textilesdesigner #bcu_classof25 #bcuinspired2025 #ND25 #NewDesigners25 #ComingtoND #StandT4 #woodentextiles #woodenbench #textilesstudent

I can’t believe how big this billboard turned out! My work was chosen to be displayed in Birmingham on Livery Street. Come and see mine and my other classmates FMP work at our Inspired Festival (11th - 20th June). #textiles #textilesdesigner #bcu_classof25 #bcuinspired2025 #proudmommoment

Here is part 1 to the creation of my XL Sidney anteater. He is intended to be a seat or small table that is intended for a nursery or bedroom. He has been a real labour of love and even though the creation didn’t fully go to plan I’m really proud of the result. #textiles #textilesdesigner #bcu_classof25 #bcuinspired2025 #ND25 #NewDesigners25 #ComingtoND #StandT4 #woodentextiles #woodenbench #textilesstudent

✨B I G N E W S✨
I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be exhibiting at @newdesigners this summer where I’ll be showcasing my latest collection Anteatering Around. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀🗓️2nd - 5th July
📍Business Design Centre, Islington, London
👈Stand T4 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You’ll find me and the rest of the amazing @textilesbcu team at stand T4 where you will see some incredible work by @rebeccatombs_textiles , @jessicalrtextiles , @ellafelgatedesign , @rosiefleur_textiles , @copperweaves + @alices_art6 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Come along, get inspired and let’s connect over nature, illustration and of course anteaters. See you there! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ #ND25 #NewDesigners25 #ComingtoND #StandT4 #textiles #textilesstudent #london #designshow

Ahhh my book has finally been completed and printed. SWIPE to see a quick flick through. I’m really excited to show this to everyone at Inspired Festival and New Designers #childrensbook #selfpublish #educational #educationalbook #textile #textiledesigner #papercollage #collageart #ND25 #NewDesigners25 #StandT4 #bcuinspired2025 #bcu_classof25 #ComingtoND

I’ve also created some wall hangings where I’ve included hand embroidery. This piece is called 60cm and is 60cm. It has that title as giant anteaters tongues are 60cm long! I honestly thought they would be longer. I love the combination of the hand woven fabric with the naturally dyed wool thread. #handembroidery #textiledesign #satinstitch #naturaldye #wallhanging #textiledesigner #homeware

This is my other more serious / sad pieces. It is called Hug. In 2024 the Amazon rainforest experienced 140,346 firez. Fires injure and kill giant anteaters as they are slow and heavy so do not notice fires in time. #printdesign #papercollage #fabriccollage #mixedmedia #mixedmediatextiles #animaltextiles #sustainabletextiles #textilefesigner #textilestudent #naturaldyes #naturaldyedtextiles #print #designstudent

This piece is called Chill. Unlike Giant Anteaters their Lesser friends are amazing climbers. They like to spend at least 13% - 64%of their time ‘chilling’ in the trees. This collaged character is also one of my favourites! #print #collage #textiledesign #printdesign #papercollage #fabriccollage #mixedmedia #mixedmediatextiles #animaltextiles #sustainabletextiles #textilefesigner #textilestudent #naturaldyes #naturaldyedtextiles #print #designstudent

This is one of my more serious / sad pieces. It is called where to? In the span of 5 years the Amazon Rainforest has lost up to 900,000 square kilometres of land, which is as large as the UK. This means that so many creatures, including anteaters, are having to travel further. They ultimately come across humans who unfortunately kill them as they are considered pests. #printdesign #papercollage #fabriccollage #mixedmedia #mixedmediatextiles #animaltextiles #sustainabletextiles #textilefesigner #textilestudent #naturaldyes #naturaldyedtextiles #print #designstudent

This piece is called Sniff. Giant Anteaters have an amazing sense of smell, which is 40x stronger than a humans. They can identify an ant species simply by smell! #print #collage #textiledesign #printdesign #papercollage #fabriccollage #mixedmedia #mixedmediatextiles #animaltextiles #sustainabletextiles #textilefesigner #textilestudent #naturaldyes #naturaldyedtextiles #print #designstudent

Introducing my first art piece out of my Anteatering Around collection. This piece is called Stand Off. It depicts how Lesser Anteaters stand on their hind legs when threatened. They will sway side to side, hiss and release a smelly smell. #printdesign #artpiece #textiledesigner #printdesign #papercollage #fabriccollage #mixedmedia #mixedmediatextiles #animaltextiles #sustainabletextiles #textilefesigner #textilestudent #naturaldyes #naturaldyedtextiles #print #designstudent #slowdownartcomp2025

Introducing my final toys in this specific collection. I knew I needed to include ants for my anteaters! It would be criminal not to. To encourage montessori play I added in magnets so the ants can actually carry their leaves. They have been hand made with pine and painted with toy safe paint. #woodentoys #handmade #sustainabletoys #montessori #montessoritoys

Introducing my wooden toys that I have created for this collection. My Lesser Anteater has been given the name Mabel after my cat who has similar characteristics. These toys have been hand made with pine and painted with toy safe paint. #woodentoys #handmade #sustainabletoys #montessori #montessoritoys

Introducing my wooden toys that I have created for this collection. My Giant Anteater has been given the name Sid, after my cat who has similar characteristics. These toys have been hand made with pine and painted with toy safe paint. Baby anteaters also stay on their mother’s back for a year so I created a piece that can be taken off and on. #woodentoys #handmade #sustainabletoys #montessori #montessoritoys

Some more book snippets. #illustrations #bookillustrator #educationalbooks #textiles #textilesdesigner #procreate #collage #papercollage #fabriccollage #print #printdesigner #selfpublishing

Some snippets from my upcoming book. I’ve got lots of pages still to do but I’m getting really excited to get it printed!! #printdesign #textilesstudent #childrensbook #childrenspicturebook #illustrator #illustration #collage

This is as abstract as my work goes. I wanted to enter the rug / carpet category in the @thebradfordtextilesociety competition so decided to take the free flowing motif I used in my Home Sweet Home piece (swipe to see) and translated this as a fun, bold carpet design. #bradfordtextilesociety #carpetdesign #textiles #constructedtextiles #rugdesign #designstudent #abstractdesign #abstracttextiles #slowdownartcomp2025

My collection of paper and fabric collaged characters that have been used in my project. #textilesstudent #papercollage #fabriccollage #papercollageartist #textiledesigner #illustrator

Doing some final sketchbook work today ready for my final major project hand in tomorrow! #textiles #textilesdesigner #sketchbook #sketchbookwork #designdeadline

I’m including some Hyacinth Macwas in a few of my designs. They are made from 100% naturally dyed fabric. The indigo blue is gorgeous and I just knew I wanted to include it in my collection. Side note, this guy was so fiddly to make so there’s still some white fabric that needs to be removed. #textiles #textilesdesigner #textilesstudent #fabriccollage #printdesign #animalcollage

Yes I want my collection to showcase the fun, playful personalities of Anteaters but I also want it to highlight how our actions on the environment are destroying their home. Both species can be found in the Amazon rainforest and every minute an area roughly the size of 5 football pitches is cut down! #collage #printdesign #textiles #textilesstudent #papercollage #fabriccollage #animalawareness #textilesawareness

Introducing one of my final collection designs which explores the life of Giant and Lesser Anteaters. All the motifs are hand made from paper collage with some additional digital details. I really love this print and the poses and details you see are reflected in my other collection pieces. #textiles #textilesdesigner #blockrepeat #papercollage #collage #animalprints #print #printdesigner

Done lots of collaging this week which included some greenery. Love the ‘simplistic’ route I’ve taken with these. #collage #papercollage #picturebook #textiles #textilesdesigner #textilesstudent #printdesigner

I’m really enjoying creating these little guys. For my FMP I’m collaging with both paper and natural dyed fabrics. I love adding the final details with pencil . #textile #textilestudent #textilesdesign #collage #fabriccollage #papercollage #fmp

I wanted to include an Anteater village print for my final collection. This design was inspired by Ludwig Bemelman and it will be screen printed with iron mordant and then some flocking will be added to provide some nice texture. I can’t wait to print this! #textiles textiles #textilesstudent #screenprinting #surfacepattern #design #mordantpainting #textilesdesign #alloverprint #halfdropprint #illustrationdesign #

My first attempt at making wooden toys. I love converting my drawings into wood. These guys are Giant and Lesser Anteaters and can be found in the Amazon Rainforest. These beautiful and unique creatures are the main characters of my final major project. #fmp #textiles #textilesstudent #woodentoys #animalwoodentoys #educationaltextiles

Iron and Alum mordant painting samples. Hopefully the strong colour differences stay once washed off #naturaldye #mordantprinting #textiles #textilesdesign #textilesdesignstident #sustainabletextiles

Trying to collage some cheeky Giant Anteaters for my final project #papercollage #papercraft #fmp #textiles #textilesdesign #animaldesign #designer

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@amesnewtondesigns

Awards / Achievements

Exhibited at

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