Rob Howell holds a degree in embroidered textiles (1988) and brings decades of rich, multidisciplinary experience in arts and culture to his modern textile practice. Throughout his career, Howell has exhibited widely, completed notable public and private commissions, and served as the Artist-in-Residence at the 1992 National Eisteddfod—Europe’s largest cultural and arts festival. His work is held in private collections as well as the Welsh National Collection in Llanidloes, which houses his quilt, Triangles (1991).

With a deep background in community arts, Howell has crafted custom trade union banners across the UK and executed ecclesiastical textile restorations. Today, his practice centres on wall quilts and banners that bridge bold messaging—via slogan or iconography—with rich pattern, colour, and tactile texture.

Howell’s recent group exhibitions include the British Textile Biennial and The Art of Textiles (Queen Street Gallery, Wales), as well as regional public art commissions for Bacup Market and Blackburn BID. He is currently working toward a major solo exhibition for the 2028 British Textile Biennial. This forthcoming body of work features a series of intarsia-pieced textile portraits of himself and close male friends, drawing inspiration from 18th- and 19th-century military quilts to explore male connection and "the bond of men."