“I am fascinated by old letters and documents and the personal histories contained within them, how writing can be so unique to an individual, suggesting character and narrative. I am intrigued by the shapes and rhythms of the letterforms and respond to the spaces that are created inside and outside of each line of text. Although the very nature of freehand machine embroidery breaks down the fragile surface of the aged paper, I am, through stitch , trying to preserve and celebrate a very small aspect of history.
I make heavily embroidered and embellished one off pieces where I am drawing and painting with thread, responding to the existing aesthetics of each vintage document.
Recent work has been made using old, discarded letters and documents from the now defunct cotton manufacturer Riggs of Rochdale. The documents giving us a glimpse of a way of life that no longer exists, as well as the people who lived it.” Sharon Brown
Exhibitions
The Platform Gallery, Clitheroe – 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 – Peter Storey Gallery, Lancaster
Member of Society For Embroidered Work www.societyforembroideredwork.com
Winner of Platform Gallery Craft Open, Ribble Valley Prize 2019
