“As an artist I am fascinated by archival materials, searching for
fragments of the past to re-imagine and place in the present.
An exploration of history to find forgotten or new narratives told
through free-hand machine embroidery, collage, digital
assemblages and print.

The repetition and restriction of work seems to have been pivotal
in defining the lives, memories and experiences of the people of
the North of England.There are important stories to be shared
about lives spent in and shaped by work, society and living
conditions and one of my aims as an artist is to find and record
valuable first-hand testimony before it disappears.

For my recent projects, I have had the privilege of spending time
immersed in the archives of, Queen Street Mill Museum , Burnley,
the Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery, Rawtenstall and the recently
created Rossendale Footwear Collection.

I have been able to quite literally touch history – read the words of
others ,study photographs and documents and feel often surprising
emotional connections with the faces of strangers. I am drawn to
evidence of physicality – handwriting, marks, drawings, stains and
rips, anything that suggests human connection and touch.

I want my work to reveal aspects of the past – to share those
forgotten personal stories that allow us to make sense of the
present.”

Exhibitions

  • Stitched Histories, Solo show, invited artist – British Textile Biennial, Queen St Mill Textile Museum 2021
  • The Platform Gallery, Clitheroe
  • Peter Storey Gallery, Lancaster
  • Touchstones, Rochdale
  • Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
  • Central Art Gallery, Ashton
  • Waterside Arts Centre, Sale
  • London Tap Gallery, Sale
  • Harris Art Gallery, Preston
  • Hot Bed Press, Salford
  • Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington
  • Northlight, Hebden Bridge
  • Barrowford Arts Festival
  • Pendle Print Fest
  • Saltaire Inspired, Saltaire
  • HigherfordMill ,Barrowford
  • Water Street Gallery, Todmorden

Commissions / Residencies

  • Lancashire Textile Gallery Commission – Super Slow Way/ Uclan / 2022/3 Gawthorpe Textiles Collection http://www.lancashiretextilegallery.com
  • The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery Banner Commission 2022
  • ‘Stitched Histories’ residency at Queen St Mill Textile Museum 2021
    British Textile Biennial www.britishtextilebiennial.co.uk

Memberships / Awards / Publications

  • Embroidery Magazine feature article ‘In Their Shoes’ Jan 2024
  • Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice Award 2022/3
  • ‘Fragmentation and Repair for Mixed-Media and Textile artists’ 2021
    Shelley Rhodes, Batsford, ISBN 1849946108
  • arttextstyle.com ‘Textile Happenings in the UK’ 6th October 21 2021
  • Member of Society For Embroidered Work 2019
    www.societyforembroideredwork.com
  • Winner of Platform Gallery Craft Open, Ribble Valley Prize 2019
  • www.live-magazines.co.uk/a-stitch-in-time ‘ A Stitch in Time’ feature article 2019