I am a professional hand embroiderer, having trained for three years at Hampton Court Palace as an apprentice at The Royal School of Needlework, where I achieved a First Class qualification in 1998.

During my time as an apprentice, I learnt many different techniques of traditional and decorative hand embroidery, such as blackwork, whitework, goldwork, silk shading, crewelwork and tapestry shading. I am also trained in the restoration and conservation of delicate antique textiles and embroideries. I have demonstrated at craft shows, such as those held at Alexandra Palace and Olympia and helped set up exhibitions there. I assisted in RSN classes as a teaching assistant in my first two years and in my third year, took on the role of teacher myself, where I taught a variety of techniques including silk shading, shadow work, goldwork and blackwork.

Having graduated from The Royal School of Needlework, I decided to set up my own business. I undertook various new commissions for companies such as Harrods, Lulu Guinness, Monsoon and the Brompton Oratory in Kensington as well as for London Fashion Week. I conserved and restored a variety of embroidered textiles, including a set of 17th Century church vestments, a 200 year old metalwork cushion and a 500 year old set of tapestry hangings. I also took over the running of a local embroidery group and organised and held weekly classes, as well as teaching around the country and for the RSN. I was part of a team that regularly set up and dismantled exhibitions around the country for The Embroiderers’ Guild.

I am inspired by the joy of creating an embroidered item that is not only handmade, but also unique, detailed and hopefully, beautiful. Embroidery may often be dismissed as only a method of sewing on a button, or mending a shirt, so it is important to me to be able to bring embroidered textiles to a wider audience and show them that hand embroidery has a deserved place in the artisan marketplace.

I have a love of antique textiles, whitework in particular and have a small but growing collection of christening gowns, as well as several other heirloom items.

I am a Member of the Society for Embroidered Work and a Full Member of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen.