Claire joined Edinburgh College of Art in 2009 and has been instrumental in establishing the knitwear component within the fashion department. Currently lead tutor for 3rd year, teaching across fashion design, knitwear and tailoring, she also works with 4th year students who are focussing on knitwear for their final collections.

Claire also works as a freelance knitwear designer, designing knitwear for major design brands and independent designers. After completing her BA (Hons) in Textile Design - Knitwear at Heriot-Watt she went onto to gain her Masters in Fashion Womenswear knitwear at the Royal College of Art. She then went onto to work in New York designing the Women’s Collection Knitwear for Calvin Klein.

Upon her return to the UK she taught Knitted Textiles at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and was a visiting Lecturer at Gray’s School of Art while developing her freelance client base. She has extensive expertise in developing collections and in the creation of unique fabrics.

She also established her label Ferguson, specialising in knitted accessories and secured funding from The Scottish Arts Council to support its set up and growth. The collection was exhibited and sold within the UK.

Claire continues to work as a freelance designer alongside her work at ECA. She is passionate about how her own practice informs her teaching and brings a wealth of knowledge gained through her industry experience in the creative innovation in knitwear, fabrics and fashion design.