Beyond the Frame

My embroidery is never confined to a flat plane — I believe it should be experienced as a living, breathing presence. I love to display my work in ways that invite movement, interaction, and multiple perspectives. A glass terrarium becomes not just a vessel but a stage, offering a 360-degree view of the piece, allowing every detail and hidden angle to be discovered like turning over a rock in a tidal pool.

I’m drawn to creating 3D embroideries inspired by the coral reef — works that are textural, sculptural, and often incorporate found materials. One of my most meaningful pieces began as a fragment of charred, ocean-eroded wood, found washed ashore on Shell Island, West Wales. On one side, I embroidered a vibrant celebration of reef life — a riot of colour and texture. On the reverse, in stark and deliberate contrast, the embroidery was entirely white, an unflinching nod to the bleached and dying reefs we risk losing.

Another piece took form inside a geometric glass terrarium — an embroidered coral sculpture alive with playful, jiggling elements that shifted with the slightest movement. It became both a celebration of the reef’s beauty and a reminder of its fragility, preserved in a delicate balance between protection and exposure.

I also explored the reef’s story through a sculptural acrylic tube — layering coral-inspired embroidery within ocean-hued epoxy resin, swirled in blues and whites to echo the movement of waves. This cylindrical form was strung on a hand-beaded necklace and secured with handcrafted silver attachments, turning it into a piece of wearable art that captures the reef in motion, suspended in time.

For me, embroidery is not just decoration — it is an environment to explore, a story you can step inside, and a reminder that beauty often lies beyond the traditional frame.