Blog - Arnolds Attic

12th November 202512th November 2025

Sara Impey – Meet the Artist

Sara Impey specialises in textile artworks inspired by traditional quilt-making techniques, incorporating free-machine stitched lettering. A former journalist, Impey writes her own material, allowing her to play with language visually and use the quilted surface to comment on contemporary issues.

Quilt by Sara Impey — Free machine stitched text

In this video Sarah shares her ‘Context’ exhibition with us.

Sara Impey: https://www.saraimpey.com

Sara Impey

A recurring theme in Sara Impey’s practice is the power of words—their ability to persuade, inspire, and sometimes mislead. In an era increasingly defined by contested narratives, her work highlights the importance of language and its impact. At the same time, she celebrates the legacy of needlework, honoring the craftsmanship and creative spirit of generations of quilters and embroiderers. Her pieces often explore the process of making itself, offering a stitcher’s-eye view into the construction of textile art.

Primarily working in wall-hung quilts, Impey occasionally ventures into three-dimensional forms, embracing new creative challenges. Her work is exhibited nationally and internationally and has received numerous accolades. Impey’s quilts are held in major public collections, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the International Quilt Museum, and The Quilters’ Guild Collection.

She is a member of the pan-European group Quilt Art and an honorary member of The Quilters’ Guild. Her book, Text in Textile Art, was published by Batsford in 2013.

7th October 20257th October 2025

Fez Art Residency Experience

I feel very honoured to have been selected for a week’s residency in Fez. Time here has been a blur and flown by way too quickly and the Fez Art Residency experience has been more than I could ever have wished for.

With food, social history, language & dialect inspiring my own work I came to Fez with an open mind, not knowing where the residency would take me. Within days of arriving I felt myself slowing down and falling into the pace of life within the Medina.

Everyone and everything here works in a symbiotic rhythm starting with the beautiful voice of the Fajr (Dawn Prayer).

Best bits

The adventure of getting lost in the heart of the Medina.

Drinking Moroccan mint tea with new friends at Dar Drouj.

Sharing my embroidery with the students at L’École des Métiers d’Art Shems’y (The Shems’y School of Crafts).

The central courtyard at the L'École des Métiers d'Art Shems'y (The Shems'y School of Crafts) — The central courtyard at the L’École des Métiers d’Art Shems’y (The Shems’y School of Crafts)

Playing and experimenting with the local cactus ‘silk’ thread.

Cactus silk thread Fez Art Residency Experience — Cactus silk thread

Sharing a button shopping trip with friends – we had the poor shopkeeper up and down his ladder hunting for buttons in every shape and colour of the rainbow.

What I discovered

Working with a needle and thread is a universal skill & language. I’ve found myself chatting in broken English/French/Arabic to communicate and share my appreciation for the skills of local weavers and craftsmen – and also with two local ladies at a Fasi embroidery market stall with all three of us cooing over the thread work.

Fez Art Residency Experience local weavers — Local weavers

Inspiration is everywhere within the Medina and every craftsman uses their local culture to decorate and embellish their handwork – from textiles and mosaics, to metal and woodworking.

Fez Art Residency Experience wood craftsman's workshop — Woodworker’s workshop

What enriched the experience

Waking to the Fajr (Dawn Prayer) and watching the shadows and colours change with the sunrise and later the sunset over the Atlas mountains.

Experiencing daily life away from the busy main streets full of tourists and being completely submerged in the culture.

Within a radius of 100 meters of my front door I met several craftsmen in their workshops – hand stitching embellishments on garments, making cords and tassels with Cactus ‘silk’, and cutting and making leather purses.

Saying ‘Shukran’ as I bought my morning bread from the local baker.

Fez Art Residency Experience. Local baker. — Local baker.

I’ve found the whole experience incredibly enriching and it’s made me think differently about aspects of my work.

Watch this space.

Thank you to Peter at The Fez Art Residency for this opportunity and to my friend Lynne – fellow residency artist and fellow member of Prism Textiles – for making this a week I’ll never forget.

24th September 202526th September 2025

Fez Art Residency

I’m excited to share that I’m one of a number of creatives from across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East taking part in the Dar Drouj and 8WEEKSinFEZ residencies – hosted by Fez Art Residency.

From the 436 submissions, 26 artists were chosen for the residency.

It’s going to be a real adventure and I can’t wait to meet the other creatives on the residency.

“8WEEKSinFEZ is hosted by Fez Art Residency, and celebrates UNESCO-listed Fez Medina as a city of creativity. A place where tradition and imagination meet. The residency offers selected artists the time, space, and inspiration to reflect, explore, and create….. Running from September to October 2025, in the heart of Fez Medina, Morocco. You’re not just visiting – you’re part of something. It’s a creative home, a cultural exchange, and a chance to slow down and reconnect with your practice. Fez is alive with tradition and artistic energy. You’ll be joining a growing community of artists creating and connecting right here.” ~ 8WEEKSinFEZ.

Small groups of artists are participating in a one week residency throughout September and October 2025.

I’m looking forward to creating some site specific work.