Lois Walpole was born in London of Anglo Scottish heritage. She graduated from Saint Martins School of Art, London with a B.A.(Hons.) in Sculpture in 1975 and obtained City and Guilds qualifications in Basket Making from the London College of Furniture in 1982. In 2003 she completed a Doctorate in the Design Products department at the Royal College of Art in London.
Since 1982 she has worked full time as an artist/ basket maker taking part in and curating national and international exhibitions, working to commission, designing for production, teaching and writing.
From 1972 to 2005 she lived in London. Now she divides her time between the Shetland Islands and the Charente, in south west France, where her studio is currently based.
Shetland Museum and Archives, Lerwick
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
The British Council, London
Norwich Castle Museum
Varosi Muveszeti Muzeum, Gyor, Hungary
Manchester City Art Gallery
Portsmouth City Museum
Industriamuseet, Trondheim, Norway
Hordaland Museet, Bergen, Norway
Crafts Council, London
Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead, England
East Midlands Arts, England
Bankfield Museum, Halifax,England
Bedfordshire Schools Loan Collection, England
Vlechtmuseum, Noordwolde, Netherlands
2007
Walmsley Bursary, Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
2003
National Grid Transco Sustainable Business Award, Transco plc.,London
2001
Postgraduate Award for Doctoral Study, Arts & Humanities Research Board, London
2000
Study Bursary, Royal College of Art, London
1999
Study Bursary, Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
1997
Individual Artist Grant, London Arts Board
1987
Paul Reilly Prize, Chelsea Crafts Fair, Paul Reilly
1987
British Council Grant for exhibition in Toronto, Canada,
1985
Grant for exhibition expenses Crafts Council, London
2021
Lifetime Achievement Award, Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
1997
Yeoman member of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
France 2014
London 1992 (photo Roger Birch)