Carol Ryder
Liverpool School of Art and Design
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: C.Ryder@ljmu.ac.uk
Carol Ryder is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion at Liverpool John Moores University. Trained as a fashion designer, illustrator and educator, Ryder has worked in and around the fashion industry for more than 20 years. She began her career running her own independent fashion label which was sold via her retail outlet in London’s Kensington High Street and exported worldwide.
Currently a PhD candidate, Ryder's practice-based research is concerned with investigating the social impact of narrowly defined and extreme female fashionable bodily ideals and proposes that a more diverse spectrum of fashionable bodies is both possible and necessary.
She seeks to promote greater diversity in fashion and the wider media by using fashion portraiture and illustration to depict a range of faces and figures that challenge the bland homogeneity and repetitious female stereotypes that permeate popular culture, where women and girls are frequently represented as erotic, sexualized, infantilized, vulnerable, submissive or unhappy, in imagery designed to satisfy the dominant male gaze.
Fashion illustration work by Carol Ryder has been published in a range of formats including advertising, books, magazines, journals, online publications and conference proceedings. In 2022, as a finalist in the 6th FIDA International Fashion Illustration Drawing Awards her portrait illustration ‘Clown’ of fashion stylist Lizzie Cardwell was highly commended.
She began to exhibit watercolour fashion portraiture in 2021. Her portrait ‘Gold Stripe’ - of performance artist Silvia Ziranek - was produced during the lockdowns imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. ‘Gold Stripe’ was exhibited at the 209th Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours exhibition (2021) at the Mall Galleries in London, where it won the Cass Art Prize for Innovative Use of Watercolour.
Since then, Ryder’s work has featured in more exhibitions, including the 211th and 213th Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours exhibitions (2023 and 2025), the ING Discerning Eye exhibition (2022) and the Society of Women Artists 163rd Exhibition 2024 – all at the Mall Galleries in London - and the Royal Cambrian Academy open exhibitions in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
Languages
English
Degrees
2009, Birmingham City University, United Kingdom, MA, Fashion, Textiles and Surface Design
2003, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, PG Certificate, Education
1985, Northumbria University, United Kingdom, BA Hons
Academic appointments
Fashion Tutor, Fashion Awareness Direct, 2006 - 2012
Senior Lecturer, Fashion, Liverpool John Moores University, 2001 - present
Postgraduate training
PhD, UK, Liverpool John Moores University, 2018 - 2025
Highlighted publications
Ryder C. 2023. Season's Greetings 14th International Conference on the Image Author Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2013. The Fashionable Body: Illustrated Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C, Shaw J. 2011. Fashion Africa Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2008. World Style File: Design Research and Education on a Global Scale The International Journal of Learning, 14 :187-192 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2007. The Use of Technology in Adult Art and Design Education The International Journal of Technology Knowledge and Society, 2 :155-162 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2005. Visual Communication in Fashion and Textile Design Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 209th Exhibition 2021 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. The Royal Cambrian Academy Annual Open Art Exhibition 2022 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. ING Discerning Eye Exhibition 2022 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 211th Exhibition 2023 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. SEASON’S GREETINGS - Celebrating Diversity at Christmas: A Practice-led PhD Research Project - Pop-Up Exhibition Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Fashion and Culture: Global Culture and Fashion Textiles and Fashion: Materials, Design and Technology :605-634 Elsevier 9781845699314 DOI Publisher Url
Ryder C. Material Culture: Social Change, Culture, Fashion and Textiles in Europe Textiles and Fashion: Materials, Design and Technology :563-603 Elsevier 9781845699314 DOI Publisher Url
Ryder C. Society of Women Artists 163rd Exhibition 2024: Zoom Call and Gold Stripe Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Poster
Ryder C. 2023. Season's Greetings 14th International Conference on the Image Author Url Public Url
Internet publication
Ryder C. 2020. Textilart Produkte Lehrmittelverlag Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2013. The Fashionable Body: Illustrated Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Design
Ryder C, Hitchen Z. 2015. “In Conversation” (Illustrations by Carol Ryder 2015, animation by Zoë Hitchen 2015) Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2015. Material Culture: Social Change, Culture, Fashion and Textiles in Europe Author Url Publisher Url
Ryder C. 2015. Fashion and Culture: Global Culture and Fashion Author Url Publisher Url
Ryder C. 2012. Amelias Magazine Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2012. Krystov Strozyna: London Fashion Week Review Illustration Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2012. Images 36 - Best of British Illustration 2012 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C, Shaw J. 2011. Fashion Africa Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C, Polhemus T. 2007. World Style File Author Url Publisher Url
Ryder C. “Animating Fashion Illustration: Diversity in Fashion Film” (illustrations and animation by Carol Ryder, 2015) Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Chapters
Ryder C. 2014. Fashion and Culture: The European Impact on Design and Textiles Textiles and Fashion: Materials Processes and Technology Woodhead Publishing. Cambridge, UK 978-1845699314 Author Url Publisher Url
Ryder C. 2014. Fashion: The Growth and Impact of Global Culture Sinclair R. Textiles and Fashion: Materials, Design and Technologies Woodhead Publishing. Cambridge, UK 978-1845699314 Author Url Publisher Url
Ryder C. Fashion and Culture: Global Culture and Fashion Textiles and Fashion: Materials, Design and Technology :605-634 Elsevier 9781845699314 DOI Publisher Url
Ryder C. Material Culture: Social Change, Culture, Fashion and Textiles in Europe Textiles and Fashion: Materials, Design and Technology :563-603 Elsevier 9781845699314 DOI Publisher Url
Journal article
Ryder C. 2010. Gilding the Lily Sinclair R. Just 4 Textiles, :22-25 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2009. Just go for it! Sinclair R. Just 4 Textiles, :18-19 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2008. Garment Design: Creating an A-line skirt pattern from a basic block Sinclair R. Just 4 Textiles, :10-12 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2008. Battling with All This Fabric Just 4 Textiles, :18-21 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2008. Fashion Awareness Direct: Giving talented, disadvantaged young people a door into the fashion industry. Sinclair R. Just 4 Textiles, :14-17 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2008. Garment Design: from Research to Construction Just 4 Textiles, :21-23 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2008. A Career in Felt Design Sinclair R. Just 4 Textiles, :16-18 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2008. World Style File: Design Research and Education on a Global Scale The International Journal of Learning, 14 :187-192 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2007. Fashion Illustration; Practical Applications Sinclair R, Hitchcock B. Just 4 Textiles, :18-20 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2007. Fashion Illustration Sinclair R, Hitchcock B. Just 4 Textiles, :1-23 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2007. The Use of Technology in Adult Art and Design Education The International Journal of Technology Knowledge and Society, 2 :155-162 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. 2005. Visual Communication in Fashion and Textile Design Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Conference publication
Ryder C. 2007. Fashion Illustration. Achieving Excellence in Textiles: A National Conference for Teachers of Textiles, Achieving Excellence in Textiles: A National Conference for Teachers of Textiles. Author Url Publisher Url
Ryder C. 2007. Decorative Textile Techniques Achieving Excellence in Textiles: A National Conference for Teachers of Textiles, Achieving Excellence in Textiles: A National Conference for Teachers of Textiles Author Url Publisher Url
Ryder C. The Illustrated Fashionable Body The Conference on the Image Author Url Publisher Url
Exhibition
Ryder C. Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 209th Exhibition 2021 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. The Royal Cambrian Academy Annual Open Art Exhibition 2022 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Great Sheffield Art Show Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Brouhaha Art: My Generation Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Camelback Gallery Portraits Exhibition Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. ING Discerning Eye Exhibition 2022 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 211th Exhibition 2023 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. The Royal Cambrian Academy Annual Open Art Exhibition 2023 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. SEASON’S GREETINGS - Celebrating Diversity at Christmas: A Practice-led PhD Research Project - Pop-Up Exhibition Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Provins M, Ryder C. Light Night 2020: 'aplaceforeverythingand' Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Roberts E, Ryder C. Liverpool-Shanghai Modern Art Joint Exhibition, 1999-2019 Public Url
Roberts E, Ryder C. Shanghai-Liverpool Modern Art Joint Exhibition, 1999-2019 Public Url
McNeill E, Ryder C. The Body Image Labyrinth Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Brouhaha Art: Portrait Artist of the Year Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Provins M, Ryder C. Light Night 2021: PLAY Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryder C. Society of Women Artists 163rd Exhibition 2024: Zoom Call and Gold Stripe Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Conference presentation:
Poster presentation, Zaragoza, Spain, Fourteenth International Conference on the Image, Season's Greetings. 2023
Oral presentation, Liverpool School of Art and Design, Institute for Health Research Annual Conference, Fashion on Prescription. 2019
Oral presentation, Berkeley, California, USA, Sixth International Conference on the Image, Animating Fashion Illustration: The Creation of Animated Fashion Film to Promote Fashion Diversity. 2015
Oral presentation, Berlin, Germany, Fifth International Conference on the Image, The Illustrated Fashionable Body. 2014
Award:
4th Annual Women in Watercolor International Juried Competition, Finalist - 4th Annual Women in Watercolor International Juried Competition, https://womeninwatercolor.com/. 2023
Fidaworldwide, Commendation & Finalist- 6th FIDA Awards 2022, https://www.fidamembersclub.com/6th-awards-winner. 2022
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Cass Art Prize 2021, http://royalinstituteofpaintersinwatercolours.org/2021/05/28/prize-winners-2021/. 2021
Birmingham City University, M.A. Post-Graduate Masters Degree, http://www.bcu.ac.uk/. 2009
Manchester Metropolitan University, Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, http://www.mmu.ac.uk/. 2003
Northumbia University (then Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Polytechnic), B.A. Hons. Degree in Fashion, http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/. 1985
Media Coverage:
Goddess Arts Magazine Issue 7 - November / December 2022 Page 9 Interview and illustrations 2022
www.blurb.de
www.goddessartsmag.com
1968 magazine, Issue 6, Winter 2012 / 2013, pages 74 - 77. Interview with Carol Ryder, and illustrations created by Carol Ryder.
www.1968magazine.com
www.1968magazine.com
issuu.com
Online coverage on LJMU website of conference presentation: Sixth International Conference on the Image, October 29-30, Berkeley California, USA.
youtu.be
youtu.be
www.ljmu.ac.uk
External collaboration:
Dr. Anna Pearson, Research & Development Manager, North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, NHS, http://www.nwbh.nhs.uk/. 2018
Dr. Ashish Kumar, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist; Clinical Lead for Mid Mersey and Wigan Bolton Eating Disorder Services for Young People, North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, NHS, http://www.nwbh.nhs.uk/. 2018
Dr. Sandeep Ranote: Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist; Medical Director - Northwest Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, NHS, http://www.nwbh.nhs.uk/dr-sandeep-ranote. 2018
Zoe Hitchen, Manchester Metropolitan University. 2015
Ann Marie Kirkbride, Northumberland University. 2013
Jacqueline Shaw - Founding Director of Africa Fashion Guide (AFG), Jacaranda Books, https://africafashionguide.wordpress.com/contributors/about/. 2011
Industrial connections:
Sue Dray - London College of Fashion, Programme Leader, BA (Hons) Fashion Illustration and Imaging Fashion Professional Interviewee for PhD study - The Fashionable Body: Illustrated, https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/london-college-of-fashion/people/sue-dray. 2018
Nuno Da Costa, Fashion Illustrator. Fashion Professional Interviewee for PhD study - The Fashionable Body: Illustrated, https://www.nunodacosta.com/. 2018
David Longshaw: Longshaw-Ward, Fashion Designer and Illustrator. Fashion Professional Interviewee for PhD study - The Fashionable Body: Illustrated, http://www.longshawward.com/. 2018
Fig Taylor - Association of Illustrators, Illustration portfolio consultant, former illustration agent, lecturer, fatshionista, author of 'How to Create a Portfolio & Get Hired: A Guide for Graphic Designers and Illustrators (Portfolio Skills)' . Fashion Professional Interviewee for PhD study - The Fashionable Body: Illustrated, https://the-dots.com/users/fig-taylor-94590. 2018
Caryn Franklin - All Walks Beyond the Catwalk, Diversity in Fashion. 2013
Textile Institute, Lecturer in fashion illustration, http://www.texi.org/. 2012
Association of Illustrators, Supplied illustration for: 'Images 36: Best of British Illustration 2012'., http://www.aoiimages.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=58. 2012
James Bent, La Mode Outre: Since May 2011, James Bent- photographer based in Tapei, Japan - has been working with illustrators from around the world to create illustration collaborations. Bent provides the illustrators with a selection of new street fashion photographs, which they illustrate in their own style and complete an interview. The photograph, illustration and interview are all then posted on the 'La Mode Outre' site, along with a link to their portfolio. To date Bent has worked with illustrators from: the US, the UK, Australia, France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore and Russia., http://lamodeoutre.com/illustrations. 2012
Ethical Fashion Forum, Designed flagship image for the 2010 Ethical Fashion Forum Source Expo, Westminster City Hall, London. Design used for publicity for the event, and printed onto t-shirts and goodie bags. Also designed 2010 Christmas card for the EFF., http://www.ethicalfashionforum.com/. 2010
Sinclair Consultancy, Lecturer in textiles techniques and fashion illustration, http://www.sinclairconsultancy.co.uk/. 2007
Tribal Publishing, Carol Ryder was invited by 'Just 4 Textiles' editor Rose Sinclair in 2007 to be a regular contributor to Just 4 Textiles Magazine; and between 2007 and 2010 produced several articles - both text and illustrations - for the magazine. Carol Ryder was also invited by Rose Sinclair to speak at the 'Tribal' conference 'Achieving in Textiles' in November 2007., http://www.sfe.co.uk/about-company/. 2007
Fashion Awareness Direct, Fashion Tutor, http://www.fad.org.uk/. 2006
Ted Polhemus, World Style File, http://www.tedpolhemus.com/. 2006
Other invited event:
John Lennon Art and Design Building, A Series of Talks by Postgraduate Researchers at the Liverpool School of Art and Design, Liverpool John Moores University., SofA Talks 2018. 2018
Redmonds Building, LJMU., LJMU Research Café Presentation., Animating Fashion Illustration: Promoting the Diverse Fashionable Body via Fashion Film.. 2016
Liverpool University, Lecture to Liverpool University Feminist Society (FEMSOC) about Body Image and Fat in Feminism., Liverpool University: Body Image and Fat in Feminism. 2013
Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate., Invited speaker (Fashion Illustration workshops) for the Textile Institute at the Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrogate International Centre. 22nd and 23rd November, 2013., Knitting and Stitching Show Harrogate 2013. 2013
Alexandra Palace, London, Invited speaker (Textile portrait workshops) for the Textile Institute at the Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London. 11th and 12th October, 2013., Knitting and Stitching Show London 2013. 2013
Somerset House, London, A meeting convened by the British Fashion Council to discuss new directives from the HMRC that unpaid fashion student placements are no longer an option because they contravene National Minimum Wage legislation. Representatives from numerous HE fashion programmes from around the UK attended the meeting to discuss the issues surrounding the directive., Student Placements and Internships meeting. 2012
Alexandra Palace, London, Invited speaker (Fashion Illustration workshops) for the Textile Institute at the Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London. 12th and 13th October, 2012., Knitting and Stitching Show London 2012. 2012
Africa Centre,Covent Garden, London, Launch of 'Fashion Africa' book by Jacqueline Shaw, featuring illustrations by Carol Ryder., Fashion Africa Book Launch. 2011
Westminster City Hall, London, Produced the flagship image for the event that was printed onto t-shirts and goodie bags as well as used for publicity for the event., Ethical Fashion Forum Source Expo. 2010
Nuffield Curriculum Centre, London., Facilitator, “Design across the Curriculum”, a one day seminar funded by Dept for Education and Skills, focusing on practical issues of developing and co-ordinating design education across subject areas., “Design across the Curriculum" - one day seminar. 2008
Hilton London Metropole Hotel, London., Delivered two presentations during this one-day conference: 'Decorative Textile Techniques: how do we teach our young people to create exciting textiles?' and 'Fashion Illustration: how do we teach our young people effective fashion illustration skills?'., Achieving Excellence in Textiles: A National Conference for Teachers of Textiles. 2007
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Liverpool, Exhibition of products demonstrating the influence of cotton within the design and production process. Organised by Liverpool John Moores University in conjunction with the International Cotton Association and the Northern Edge consortium., Cotton Flower. 2007
Liverpool School of Art, 68 Hope Street, Liverpool., Carol Ryder illustration work (2 large drawings) included in Liverpool Biennial exhibition, October 2003., Liverpool Biennial Exhibition. 2003
Kymenlaakson Ammattikorkeakolu, Kouvola, Finland., Carol Ryder illustration work (2 large drawings) included in exhibition of work from the department of fashion design, Liverpool John Moores University March 2003., Fashion Design Department Exhibition, LJMU. 2003
Fellowships:
The Textile Institute, Associateship, http://www.texi.org/. 2015
Higher Education Academy (HEA), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/home. 2013
Membership of professional bodies:
The Textile Institute, Associateship (CText ATI) from The Textile Institute, http://www.texi.org/QualificationsInfo.asp. 2015
The Textile Institute, The Textile Institute Membership, http://www.texi.org/. 2014
Higher Education Academy (HEA), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/home. 2013
Association of Illustrators, AOI Membership, http://www.theaoi.com/.
Teaching qualification:
Postgraduate Certificate in Education. 2003