Arts Thread

For as long as I can remember my hand embroidery practice has explored contrasting elements of beauty, femininity and vulgarity. I delve into the contemporary and controversial with keen interest, often conducting social commentary through my mixed media stitching. I established these beliefs on the grounds of rebelling against traditional beauty standards asking the question: who truly defines what is beautiful or vulgar? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and vulgarity is no different. I have therefore gained an amount of satisfaction in attempting to advocate, radiate and create both beauty and vulgarity in the way I know best: hand embroidery. Embroidering beautifully meaningful pieces with a balance of both physical and internal beauty is where you’ll find me at my happiest. My inspiration derives from nature and the organic forms it provides in both botanical and human anatomy, combined with otherworldly surrealism. This influence is credited to my connection with the natural world through my hometown in the New Forest, Hampshire; where both sea and earth collide.