Senior Weaver

Cheryl Thornton, whilst teaching, completed further studies in Art and Design in 1976 when her introduction to tapestry weaving began at a seminal workshop with acclaimed UK tapestry artist Archie Brennan. She was offered a position at the VTW in 1977.

Thornton has worked on over fifty different tapestries, including the monumental Homage to Carl Emmanuel Bach (2003) by Jørn Utzon for the Sydney Opera House. She has led many major commissions, including three of the tapestries from the suite designed by Roger Kemp for the National Gallery of Victoria, Finding Kenneth Myer (2011) by John Young for the National Library, and Untitled (2009) by David Noonan, housed in a private collection. She has mentored less experienced weavers on many tapestries, including Dulka Warngiid (Land of All) (2007) designed by a group of Bentinck Island artists and Untitled (2011) designed by David Noonan for a private collection. More recently Cheryl has contributed to Life Burst (2016) designed by John Olsen for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Perspectives on a Flat Surface (2016) designed by John Wardle Architects (winners of the 2015 Tapestry Design Prize for Architects), Morning Star (2017) designed by Lyndell Brown and Charles Green for the Sir John Monash Center in France, Treasure Hunt (2017) designed by Guan Wei, 22 Temenggong Road, Twilight (2018) designed by Justin Hill, Hear the Plant Song (2020) designed by Janet Laurence, Wurundjeri Biik, yalinguth, yalingbu, yirramboi (202) designed by Mandy Nicholson, Ilpili (2021) designed by Kunmanara Carroll, and Parramatta (2021) designed by Chris Kenyon.

Thornton regularly exhibits her own work in solo and group exhibitions.