Ilkley Arts Open Exhibition 2025

I’m pleased to share that Lancashire Rich Jam Cake has been jury selected for the Ilkley Arts Open Exhibition 2025. The exhibition is part of the 2025 programme to support Bradford’s 2025 UK City of Culture event.

The exhibition on the theme of ‘Connections’, takes place at Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard, Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS29 9DT, 6th September – 12th October 2025, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.

“From human connectedness, kinship and alliances, to physical bonds …. ‘connection’ as a concept is worthy of our consideration. In this spirit, The Manor House Ilkley and Ilkley Arts are working together to produce an Open Exhibition in2025 exploring this very theme and building on the success of the Ilkley Arts Open Exhibition 2023.” ~ Ilkley Arts Open.

Please follow this link to view the complete list of exhibiting artists.

Lancashire Rich Jam Cake - part of the Ilkley Arts Open Exhibition 2025
Lancashire Rich Jam Cake – part of the Ilkley Arts Open Exhibition 2025

“Food and memories are closely interwoven connecting the present with the past. This cake recipe evokes warm memories from my early childhood. Lancashire Rich Jam Cake were a firm favourite at every school or church event I went to as a kid. Folk would make it to sell or cut it up and share it with a hot brew. This crowd pleaser were perfect to cut into little squares; or as my aunt used to do – cut it into pie slice wedges and arrange it on a big flowery China plate for an afternoon treat.” ~ Catherine Hill.

The hand embroidered panel measures 23.5 x 11.5cm. 

Lancashire Rich Jam Cake - part of the Ilkley Arts Open Exhibition 2025
Lancashire Rich Jam Cake – detail

Thank you to the selection panel – made up of a number of experienced exhibiting artists, gallery owners, curators, art critics and collectors – for selecting my work for exhibition.

National Embroidery Awards 2025

I’m pleased to announce that Lancashire Rich Jam Cake is part of the National Embroidery Awards 2025 at the Fashion & Embroidery Show, NEC Birmingham, England.

This exhibition of machine and hand embroidery features around a 100 stunning artworks from across the UK. The Fashion & Embroidery Show is hosted by the Creative Craft Show in Hall 20 at the NEC centre, Birmingham, England, 13th – 16th March 2025.

National Embroidery Awards 2025

I visited on day two of the show, busy with visitors from both stitching and mixed media backgrounds.

As I popped into the exhibition I snapped the image below – a visitor totally absorbed with my hand embroidered recipe.

Visitor reading the recipe.
National Embroidery Awards 2025
Visitor reading the recipe

Towards the end of the day I took these images showcasing the diverse work on show.

Images from the show.
National Embroidery Awards 2025
Images from the show.
Images from the show.
National Embroidery Awards 2025
Images from the show.

There could only be one overall winner.

The Best in Show was awarded to my dear friend and textile artist Aran Illingworth. Congratulations Aran.

Best in Show at the National Embroidery Awards
Best in Show at the National Embroidery Awards

Lancashire Rich Jam Cake

Lancashire Rich Jam Cake is a new piece of work I’ve created about my love of food. The embroidery is based around one of my late mother’s recipes and celebrates a Lancashire version of a jam pasty or a jam slice.

The completed artwork - Lancashire Rich Jam Cake
The completed artwork

The words and original design are my own.

Lancashire Rich Jam Cake

Good food and good memories form the foundation to this artwork.

Work in progress
Lancashire Rich Jam Cake
Work in progress

“This cake were a firm favourite at every school or church event I went to as a kid. Folk would make it to sell or cut it up and share it with a hot brew. This crowd pleaser were perfect to cut into little squares; or as my aunt used to do – cut it into pie slice wedges and arrange it on a big flowery china plate for an afternoon treat.” ~ Catherine Hill.

Close up of the work
Lancashire Rich Jam Cake
Close up of the work
Vintage Sylko threads used in Lancashire Rich Jam Cake
Vintage Sylko threads

Hand embroidered cotton cloth, vintage Sylko threads. Size 23.5 x 11.5cm  

This piece forms part of a body of work celebrating Lancashire food.