Katie, Author at Arnolds Attic

18th October 202618th October 2026

Whitaker Open 2026

I’m delighted that Lancashire Rich Jam Cake is part of the Whitaker Open 2026 exhibition.

The exhibition runs from 17 October to 13 December 2026 at The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery, Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

“The Whitaker Open brings together a diverse selection of artworks by artists from across the North West of England. Selected through an open call, this exhibition showcases an exciting range of practices, perspectives and mediums; from painting, sculpture and photography to video, printmaking, installation and more. Featuring both emerging and established artists, The Whitaker Open offers a snapshot of the region’s vibrant contemporary art scene and invites visitors to discover new voices, fresh ideas and unexpected connections.” ~ Whitaker Open 2026.

Thank you to judges Jude Wainwright, Zara Saghir and Jamie Holman.

The completed artwork - Lancashire Rich Jam Cake. Whitaker open 2026 — Lancashire Rich Jam Cake

I hand embroidered the piece with vintage Sylko threads. It measures 23.5 x 11.5cm. The piece forms part of a body of work celebrating my love of Lancashire food. It follows on from Lancashire Courting Cake, an earlier piece in the same series.

10th September 202624th September 2026

PLATFORM Gallery – PLATFORM:ONE

PLATFORM:ONE is the first group art show from the PLATFORM Gallery in Crewe – the gallery name is a nod to ‘a railway platform’ and the rich railway heritage of Crewe. I’m delighted that my hand embroideries Sylko Addict and Summer 2022 Part 1 & Part 2 have been jury selected to take part. The exhibition runs from 19 September-19 December 2026.

PLATFORM:Gallery

PLATFORM:Gallery – Crewe’s first dedicated contemporary art space, run by CrewCreates CIC – is a community interest company backed by core funding from Arts Council England and local partners.

The gallery is led by Jamie Chalmers and Novae Baghurst alongside the CreweCreates team. It’s based in the former Burton’s building, an Art Deco landmark at 79-83 Market Street in the town centre, close to the bus station and a short walk from the railway station.

What began as a small, temporary space in the Market Centre has grown fast – the project has now moved into a much bigger multi-floor building, with exciting plans taking shape across the ground, first, and basement levels. It’s a brilliant example of Crewe’s town-centre regeneration in action: an empty high-street unit brought back to life as a thriving cultural space for the whole community to enjoy.

Update: Private View – September 2026

Here are a few images from the Private View.

23rd August 202623rd August 2026

Beginners Embroidery In Person Workshops

The Embroiderers’ Guild has teamed up with Hobbycraft and a network of talented textile artists to share our skills and bring beginners embroidery workshops to venues across the UK. Whether you’ve never picked up a needle before or you’re looking to build a little more confidence with a needle and thread, these sessions are designed for you.

Spaces are limited and pre-booking is required to secure your place. All materials required for your workshop are provided so all you need to do is arrive ready to stitch.

I enjoy teaching so I’m delighted to be supporting the Guild this Autumn, running four sessions at the Crewe branch of Hobbycraft. Each workshop lasts two hours, and I’ll be teaching on the following dates:

Saturday 26th September 2026, 10.30am–12.30pm – Book
Saturday 26th September 2026, 1.30pm–3.30pm – Book
Saturday 17th October 2026, 10.30am–12.30pm – Book
Saturday 17th October 2026, 1.30pm–3.30pm – Book

Alongside the workshops, there are also dates to enjoy an up-close look at a curated selection of pieces from the Guild’s own collection, as well as sessions where textile artists explore embroidery in more depth. A full list of dates, venues and activities can be viewed and booked directly via the Embroiderers’ Guild.

Beginners Embroidery

Workshops are running from September 2026 through to March 2027.

Come along and join us. Sessions take place in the teaching area of each Hobbycraft store, and class sizes are kept small so everyone gets plenty of support. You’ll learn three to five essential embroidery stitches and create your own beautiful design, choosing from four stylish patterns. Fabric, threads, needle and patterns are all provided, so you’ll be ready to keep stitching long after the workshop ends.

Here are the dates for September.

Hannah Glossop @hg_textile_arts
Nottingham: 12th September, 11am – 1pm
Derby: 13th September, 11am – 1pm

Catherine Hill @catherine_hill_textile_artist
Crewe: 26th September, 10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Mae McCourt @stitchmaestitch
Bristol: 26th September, 11am – 1pm

Author: Katie