Kindness
Revolution Community Textile Artist | Amber Valley

As a contemporary community textile artist in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, my practice centres on collective making, creative wellbeing and heritage. I bring people together to share stories, rediscover skills and explore how materials carry memory. Flax is a guiding thread in my work. Growing, gathering and processing flax connects communities to the land and to each other, building friendship and understanding. The pale blue flowers of flax often spark conversations and curiosity, making space for new friendships to blossom. By using flax as a gentle conduit, I aim to break down barriers and rekindle pride in Derbyshire’s remarkable industrial past.

​

I am carbon literate and deeply concerned about the environmental impact of my work. I repurpose and reuse materials wherever possible, reducing waste and lessening my practice’s effect on the environment.

​

My journey into the arts began with inspiring teachers who showed me I belonged in creative spaces. I later qualified in textiles and industry at UMIST, giving me a strong technical and historical foundation for my practice. Their encouragement motivates me to pay this forward by supporting others to see themselves as part of the arts. My qualifications in psychotherapy also inform my person-centred approach, helping to create safe, inclusive environments for participation.

​

Flagship projects include Beneath Our Feet with Derbyshire Makes and the University of Derby, as well as permanent installations and festival exhibitions. For the Turner Prize, working with Array Collective, I encouraged over 250 banners to be made by individuals and groups across Coventry, each reflecting their stories and concerns. At the community launch, I was brought to tears by the impact this work had as people told their stories. This project became the subject of a published paper on community engagement. I am at the forefront of creative listening, both gathering and preserving community stories and formally evaluating and responding as an artist within an experimental Arts Council project on hyperlocal co-curation.

​

My projects foster new skills, lasting connections and artworks that continue to inspire. I welcome opportunities to collaborate and help build creative, inclusive communities for the future.