A new exhibition at the House of Smalls called ‘The Ascent of Man’ prompted me to create a new piece of work called ‘Stand Your Ground’ for the Dollhouse gallery.
The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, 103 Henderson Row, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5BB from the 23rd May – 21st June 2025.
“Oppression, repression and suppression as we lose our rights, our choices, our spaces, this is a call for art from Women who have something to say, to shout, to scream.” ~ The House of Smalls.
Artists taking part on the Dollhouse exhibition
Stand Your Ground
The exhibition theme made me think of the women in my own family and the good advice I’ve received from them over the years. This is one little nugget – good advice from the strong women in my life.
When it comes to domineering men – “Stand your ground and give as good as you get”.
Stand Your Ground
Stand Your Ground – detail
Size 11.5 x 11.5cm. Hand embroidered with vintage Sylko thread.
This piece forms part of a series of small works created for the House of Smalls.
I’m delighted to announce that ‘Flowers, Leaves and Berries’ has been awarded ‘The Artists Director’s Award for Innovation’ in the Embroiderers’ Guild 2025 Members Challenge ‘Colour Rhythms’.
Flowers Leaves and Berries awarded ‘The Artists Director’s Award for Innovation’
Screenshot from the Embroiderers’ Guild winners announcement
A ‘Colour Rhythms’ E-Book is available on the Guild website, featuring all the pieces in the challenge. Below are a few extracts from the book.
Embroiderers Guild E-Book
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild E-Book – Colour Rhythms Members’ Challenge
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild E-Book – Colour Rhythms Members’ Challenge
Thank you to the Embroiderers’ Guild from producing such a brilliant and inspiring challnge. Congratulations to the all winners and participants.
Jessie Chorley is a London-based textile artist and author. Hand embroidery as a form of drawing, appliqué techniques and printmaking are at the heart of Jessie’s practice as an artist-maker.
Hand Embroidery by Jessie Chorley
Needle and thread are her drawing tools. She uses them to create scenes and stories, combining stitched images and words, largely on preloved fabric. Collecting is something that goes hand-in-hand with Jessie’s making process. She is drawn to items that display marks of a previous life and often sources materials from antique markets, fairs and junk shops. Her ever-growing personal archive of ‘found’ items serves as her ongoing inspiration and is frequently her starting point for an artwork.
In this video Jessie shares her ‘Stories, Drawings, Marks and Experiments’ exhibition with us.
“I find beauty and inspiration in things that have been discarded or put to one side. Fabric cut directly from time worn and discarded clothing is my most frequently used material.” ~ Jessie.
Born in Kent in 1980, she spent her childhood in North Wales. The traditional technical skills and hands-on approach she celebrates in her work today, were passed down to her from her own family of makers, during her home schooled education.
Work by Jessie Chorley
While still a student – studying for the BA in Fine Art Textile Practice at Goldsmiths College, London – she chose to dedicate her life to making things and, shortly after graduating, she set up her own business as a full-time artist, designer and maker. Over time, she has also become a tutor and published author, as well as running a shop/studio, selling her work in East London from 2007 to 2021.
Jessie now runs her business from her private London studio. She regularly delivers masterclasses from there, as well as at venues worldwide and recently published her first book with David & Charles publishers.
