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I am a self taught embroidery artist and have been sewing since the age of 10. Born in Buckinghamshire and brought up on the South Coast of England, I studied art at A-level and went on to study drama at Guildford School of Acting. I now live in South Wales with my husband and our two beautiful girls.

My work is inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles, especially the insects that can often be overlooked. There is such beauty to be found if you look closely; a garden spider has an intricate and elegant design that can inspire even the most arachnophobic of us.

I enjoy embroidering with fine silk floss thread, using size 12 embroidery needles and a good magnifying lamp. However, embroidery can be practiced using many different types of thread and fabric and doesn’t need to be expensive, a pillowcase and sewing thread can inspire a whole new project. The only thing I would say you definitely need is patience.

I tend to use a needle painting technique (thread painting or silk shading if you prefer). However, there is no hard and fast rule to my style. I would encourage people to just pick up a needle and start stitching, experiment. Find a subject that inspires you and just play.

The sewing shed