The Pennines, a rugged area in northern England, were pivotal for textile innovation due to water power, skilled artisans, and industrial advancements. This textile belt, encompassing towns like Huddersfield and Manchester, contributed significantly to Britain’s industrial identity while being linked to colonial exploitation. Its legacy inspires contemporary art and heritage work.… Read More Pennines Textile Belt: A Hidden Industrial Spine
What Common Land Is Common land is land that is privately owned, but over which other people, known as commoners hold long‑established, legally recognised rights. These rights vary from place to place and may include grazing livestock, collecting wood for fuel or repairs, cutting turf, or turning out pigs in autumn. Although the land has… Read More Common Land and Early Governance
As the year turns, I wanted to take a moment to gently let you know that I am in the process of moving this work to a new home. This transition isn’t about leaving anything behind, but about making space — for clarity, accessibility, and care. Over time, this writing and research has grown, and… Read More A Quiet Transition
This post explores the intimate relationship between textiles and human experience, emphasising their role as everyday companions that provide comfort during challenging times. Cloth allows a slower, gentler engagement with life, fostering healing through presence and repair. It underscores the importance of care in our choices while inviting mindfulness in how we live with fabric.… Read More Living With Cloth: A Slow Practice For Uncertain Times
The Industrial Revolution significantly influenced artists in the UK, prompting them to reflect on its societal impacts. Artists like Gustave Doré and William Morris depicted both the human cost of industrialisation and the need for beauty in everyday objects. This led to a new artistic consciousness, blending critique with a quest for meaning.… Read More Art After Industry: The Gaze That Responds
Over the years, this blog has taken me on such a wonderful journey — one that has shaped not just my creative work, but also the way I see and move through the world. It’s been a space for reflection, growth, and connection — and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of… Read More Finding My Rhythm Again
Image credit: Claire Gaffney via Unsplash In Japanese, the word boro (ぼろ) literally means “tattered” or “ragged.” Yet in the world of textiles, boro has become a symbol of endurance, resourcefulness, and beauty born from necessity. What is Boro? Boro refers to cloth that has been patched and re-patched over generations. Traditionally, families in rural… Read More the beauty of boro: japan’s tradition of visible mending
Hamish Fulton, Night Life, 1993Screenprint from the portfolio Ten Toes Towards the RainbowGovernment Art Collection, UKhttps://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/object/17729-1/ British artist Hamish Fulton (b. 1946) is often described as a “walking artist.” For more than five decades, he has devoted his practice to the act of walking—not simply as a means of moving through the world, but as… Read More hamish fulton: walking as art
Introducing Holbeach Community Shop I’ve known Jane Dean since high school, and she’s always been someone I admire—kind, thoughtful, and full of quiet determination. I’m really proud to support her latest venture: Holbeach Community Shop, a nonprofit space created to serve the local community. The shop has just opened at 11–13 High Street, Holbeach PE12… Read More Holbeach Community Shop: A Gentle Place to Gather
There’s a kind of silence in Debbie Lyddon’s work that speaks louder than words. Her stitched cloth, sculptural forms, and elemental textures feel like they’ve been shaped by wind, salt, and time. I first encountered her pieces while navigating my own creative fatigue—caught between decorating dust and the longing to return to making. Her work… Read More listening to cloth: a reflection on debbie lyddon’s work
Rachel Bakewell 