Peterloo

House of Smalls

A new exhibition at the House of Smalls called ‘Moral Fibre’ prompted me to create a new piece of work called ‘Peterloo’ for the Dollhouse gallery

The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, 103 Henderson Row, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5BB from 1st – 25th August 2024. Part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

‘A good life is like a weaving. Energy is created in the tension. The struggle, the pull and tug are everything’ ~ Joan Erikson

Artists in the Dollhouse 'Moral Fibre' exhibition
Artists in the Dollhouse ‘Moral Fibre’ exhibition

Peterloo

“If we don’t vote, we are ignoring history and giving away the future” Pat Mitchell.

Our vote matters.

Peterloo
Peterloo

With each election, I think of those who came before us. Those who fought to give us the Right to Vote. Emelia Pankhurst and the fight for Women’s Suffrage; and the peaceful protestors at Peterloo in 1819.

On 16 August 1819, 60,000 people congregated in St Peter’s Field in Manchester – the largest ever political gathering of working-class people. Folk from towns across Lancashire marched to the field carrying banners with slogans supporting political reform and the right to vote; included were workers from Middleton near Rochdale, carrying a banner of locally woven blue silk, with the words ‘Liberty, Fraternity, Unity, Strength’ in hand-painted gold lettering.

Peterloo
Peterloo

Their peaceful protest turned bloody when Manchester magistrates gave orders to disperse the crowd. The Yeomanry pulled out their sabres and charged the crowd on horseback.  An estimated 18 people died and more than 650 were injured in the chaos.

The tragic incident is known as the Peterloo Massacre. A moment when ordinary people stepped up to protest in a way that has made its mark in history and with a legacy that lives on to today.

Size 11.5 x 11.5cm. Hand embroidered cotton cloth, DMC embroidery thread.

The Middleton banner is part of the Touchstones Rochdale archives.

Credit: Touchstones Rochdale, People’s History Museum.

This piece forms part of a series of small works created for the House of Smalls.

Update August 2024:

Peterloo in the ‘Moral Fibre’ Dollhouse exhibition.

Dollhouse exhibition
Dollhouse exhibition
Dollhouse
Dollhouse exhibition
Dollhouse exhibition

2024 Harley Open

I’m pleased to announce that the Giant Cauliflower Harvest and Summer ’76 have been jury selected for the 2024 Harley Open.

Over 1200 artworks entered. After two rounds of jury selections 186 artworks were chosen for the final exhibition.

The exhibition will be on show at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3LW, from Saturday 27 July to Sunday 13 October.

Summer '76
Summer ’76

The jury includes guest judge Selina Skipwith, an independent art advisor and curator, who curated previous Harley exhibitions including In Good Company and John Burningham’s Bedtime Stories.

Giant Cauliflower Harvest part of the 2024 Harley Open
Giant Cauliflower Harvest part of the 2024 Harley Open

Voting for the People’s Prize will take place throughout the exhibition, with the winner announced at the end of the show. The People’s Prize is £750 sponsored by the Welbeck Estates Company.

Update September 2024:

On a sunny September day, I popped over to Welbeck to check out the Harley Open.

Please vote for my work for visitors choice – Vote here!

Harley Gallery
Harley Gallery
A visit to the gallery
A visit to the gallery

There is such a high quality of work and I feel honoured to have two artworks accepted.

Summer '76 and the Giant Cauliflower Harvest in the exhibition
Summer ’76 and the Giant Cauliflower Harvest in the exhibition
The artworks are proving popular
The artworks are proving popular

Stitch by Stitch 2023

Fragments & Sylko Addict - Collections Exhibition - hand embroidered art

I’ve checked my records and realised I’ve yet to share with you some of the images from the brilliant Stitch by Stitch 2023 exhibition.

Stitch by Stitch 2023
Stitch by Stitch 2023

Stitch by Stitch Textile Collective’ – “An exhibition for established and emerging textile artists working with stitch, fabric and mixed media” – held at the Willow Gallery, 56 Willow Street, Oswestry, SY11 1AD; Saturday 1st July – Saturday 19th August 2023.

features artwork by Marian Jazmik
Features artwork by Marian Jazmik

Following an invitation from curators Suzette Smart and Alison Holt, Sylko Addict was selected to be part of this prestigious exhibition.

Sylko Addict in Stitch by Stitch 2023
Sylko Addict in Stitch by Stitch 2023

The exhibition included art from many high profile UK textile artists including Jan Beaney, Jean Littlejohn, Christine Kelly of Gentlework, Vivienne Beaumont, Emily Tull, Fiona Gill plus many more. An online gallery of the artworks is available here.

Meet the Artists: Catherine Hill & Vivienne Beaumont

On the 15th July 2023, Vivienne and I took part in a Meet the Artist event at the exhibition.

Catherine Hill & Vivienne Beaumont
Catherine Hill & Vivienne Beaumont – image courtesy Suzette Smart

It was a perfect space to meet and chat to visitors and to share our creative journeys with them. Most of the visitors were embroiderers who asked questions about our process and our choices of materials.

Meet the artists - Catherine Hill & Vivienne Beaumont
Meet the artists – Catherine Hill & Vivienne Beaumont

Embroidery Magazine – July / August 2023

I’m delighted that there is an article about the exhibition in Embroidery Magazine – July / August 2023. This wonderful article is written by textile artist Ailish Henderson and shares several pieces selected for exhibition – including Sylko Addict.

Embroidery Magazine
Embroidery Magazine – July / August 2023
Sylko Addict in Embroidery Magazine
Sylko Addict in Embroidery Magazine

The article also shares work by textile artists Suzette Smart, Jane Sanders, Alison Holt and Pauline Kiernan.

Thank you to Allish Henderson for your kind words
Thank you to Ailish Henderson for your kind words

Thank you to Ailish Henderson for your kind words about my work.