MICHELLE HOLMES, EMBROIDERED TEXTILES
@Archangel Studio
  • Home
  • My Work
    • Icons
    • Moons
    • Betty
    • Shops, Museums & Other Buildings
    • Birds
    • Brooches
    • Coastal & Figurative Work
    • Commissions
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Original Artwork
    • Original Bettys
    • Prints
    • Cards Sewing Kits etc

About Me

Picture
I trained in Embroidered Textiles at Loughborough University and work from my rural studio at The Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts, in Staunton Harold on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border. I exhibit my embroideries from my studio and in a number of galleries in the UK in solo and group exhibitions.

My creative practice is rooted in my love for nature, anthropology and spirituality. I keep sketch books; drawing directly from what I see around me, trees, hedges, birds, deer, sheep, the changing seasons, buildings and people.

I work by repurposing old fabrics full of memories for me to capture a new idea or thought or emotion in a fabric collage. I like to explore the reflective and tactile qualities of natural fibres, silk, linen, wool and cotton. The stitching is a mixture of free machine embroidery made on a domestic sewing machine and hand stitching.

Lately I have created embroideries inspired by spiritual and religious figures and iconography culminating in a exhibition at Launde Abbey (Leicestershire) for its 900th anniversary in 2019.

Influences include: Boro textiles, folk art, seventeenth century English embroidery, samplers, the paintings of Mary Newcombe and Samuel Palmer, folk tales, maps, medieval carvings.

My work is held in private and public collections and has been exhibited extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Taiwan and the USA. In 1994 I won the Best New Exhibitor Prize at the prestigious Chelsea Craft Fair and the Carroll Foundation Award. My work has been featured in numerous publications, including the cover of Embroidery Magazine and in Nina Edwards' book, On the Button. I have undertaken a wide range of commissions including pieces for Nieman Marcus, Habitat, P&O Cruise Ships and the Enjoy England Excellence Awards.

Events & Exhibitions

Planned for 2021
  • Inspired by William Blake, Group Show, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Dates to be confirmed.
  • Living the Questions, St Michaels with St Mary, Melbourne, Derbyshire. Easter. 
  • Melbourne Festival Art and Architecture Trail (September)
2020
  • The Angel Project, Group Show, Stockport War Memorial Gallery
 
2019 
  • 60 @ 60, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool
  • Useful and Beautiful, The Cank Street Gallery, Leicester
  • Launde Abbey 900 Years Anniversary Exhibition, Launde, Rutland

2018 
  • Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts
  • In the Window, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool

2017 
  • The Coach House Spring Exhibition, Leicester
  • Melbourne Festival, Derbyshire
  • Christmas Exhibition, Sea Pictures Gallery, Clare, Suffolk
  • Christmas Exhibition, Tess Ainley Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
                  
2016 
  • Pearl, Walford Mill Crafts, Dorset
  • Melbourne Festival, Derbyshire
  • Christmas, Sea Pictures Gallery, Suffolk
  • Open Studios, Leicester
Further Events & Exhibitions...
2015 
  • Sea Nature, Sea Pictures Gallery, Suffolk
  • A Space Odyssey, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
  • The Quilt Show, NEC, Birmingham
  • Christmas Show, The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle Upon Tyne
                                   
2014 
  • Two Talented Ladies, Sea Pictures Gallery, Suffolk
  • Number Four Gallery Summer Show, St Abbs, Eyemouth, Berwickshire
  • Seren Wen (Bright Star) Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Camarthen
  • The Quilt Show, NEC, Birmingham
 
2012 
  • Cadeaux d’Amour, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool
  • Girls Just Want to have Fun, Sea Pictures Gallery, Clare, Suffolk
  • World of Wonder, Horsebridge Arts Centre, Whitstable
 
2011 
  • Fulham Palace Art Fair, London.
  • Ties that Bind, Group Exhibition, Unit Twelve, Stafford
  • Spirit of the Coast, Sea Pictures Gallery, Clare, Suffolk
  • East Meets West, Sea Pictures Gallery, Clare, Suffolk
  • Christmas Cracker, Sea Pictures Gallery, Clare, Suffolk
  • The Boat Show, Sea Pictures Gallery, Clare, Suffolk
  • Country Living Show, London
  • Quilt Show, NEC, Birmingham
 
2010 
  • Figure, Atelier, Barnstaple
 
2009 
  • Hannah Cole and Michelle Holmes, Two person show, Rostra and Rooksmoor Galleries, Bath

2008 
  • Quiet Places, one-person exhibition, The Edge Gallery, Lancaster
  • The Written Word, group exhibition, Ferrers Gallery, Leicestershire
  • Figuratively Speaking, group exhibition, Ferrers Gallery, Leicestershire
  • Buy art, Urbis, Manchester
 
2007 
  • Teatime, group exhibition, the Edge Gallery, Lancaster
  • East Midlands Contemporary Art Auction, Nottingham
  • Rufford Presents, group exhibition, Rufford Craft Centre
  • Garment, group exhibition, Platform Gallery, Clitheroe
  • Entice Group Exhibition with Design Factory, The City Gallery, Leicester

2005 
  • Travel and Reflect, One-person Exhibition, The Edge Gallery, Lancaster
  • Textiles, Group Exhibition, Gallery Excentrisk, Denmark
  • Allure, Group Exhibition with Design Factory, Rufford Craft Centre, Notts
  • Hidden Treasures, Leicestershire, Open Studio Event
  • One-person Show, Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery
  • Home Craft Exhibition, The Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford

2002 
  • East Midlands Contemporary Art Auction, Djanogly Art Gallery, Notts
 
2001 
  • Group Exhibition, Crawford Arts Centre, St Andrews
  • Drawing on our Past, Group Exhibition, Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham
  • Contemporary Embroidery, One-person Exhibition, Ferrers Gallery

2000 
  • The Mead Gallery Showcase, Warwick Arts Centre
  • Advent 2000, Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham
  • Craft Showcases, Bank Gallery Surrey, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool

1999 
  • Of the Figure, The Mead Gallery Showcase, Warwick Arts Centre
  • Fibres, Rufford Craft Centre, Notts
  • Objects from a Lifetime, Derby Art Gallery and Museum
  • 6th Annual Art Auction, Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery
  • The Craft Movement Show, Richmond

1998 
  • Lie of the Land, Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham
  • Cadeaux, The Piece Hall, Halifax
  • 5th Annual Art Auction, Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery
  • The Craft Movement Show, Richmond

1996 
  • Embroidery, Rufford Craft Centre, Notts
  • Alfresco Summer Exhibition, The Gallery, Ruthin Craft Centre
  • Crossing Strands, Djanogly Art Gallery, University of Nottingham
  • No L, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool

1995 
  • Crafts Council Stand, San Franciso and New York International Gift Fairs
  • Objects of Love, Valentines Exhibition, The Gallery, Cork Street, London
  • Ambiente Trade Fair, Germany

1994 
  • Ambiente Trade Fair, Germany
  • Chelsea Crafts Fair, London
  • Christmas Design Exhibition, Yorkshire Sculpture Park

1993 
  • Joint Exhibition – Prize awarded by Leicester City Gallery
  • Box Art, Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery
  • Magpie Gallery, Christmas Show, Uppingham, Leics
  • Figurative Embroidered Textiles, City Gallery Leicester

1992
  • Degree Show, The Collection Gallery, Brompton Road, London.
  • Embroiderers Guild Graduate Exhibition, Hampton Court Palace.
  • Open Exhibition, Leicester City Gallery

Publications & Press

2019 
  • Textileartist.org

2018 
  • Artsbeat, (Nov)

2017/18 
  • Stitch, (Dec/Jan)

2017 
  • The Cosy Project, Michelle's Studio and all about Betty

2016 
  • Homespun, Australia, (Feb)
Further Publications & Press...
2015 
  • Hoopla, (Spring)
  • DPI, Taiwan (July)
  • Homespun, Australia, (Nov)
 
2014 
  • Embroidery Magazine, (Mar/April)
 
2013 
  • Aldeburgh: A Song of the Sea, by Tim Coates, Antique Collectors' Club
 
2011 
  • Embroidery Magazine (Sept/Oct) article by Caroline Rees
  • On the Button, by Nina Edwards
 
2010 
  • 1000 Artisan Textiles, Quayside Publishing USA
  • Embroidery Magazine (Jan/Feb)
  • Devon Life (Nov)
 
2009 
  • Embroidery Magazine (Jan/Feb)
 
2002 
  • Crafts Magazine (Jan/Feb)        
  • Embroidery Magazine (Nov)       
  • Craft Galleries Guide

2000 
  • Craft Galleries Guide

1999 
  • Country Homes and Interiors (Oct)

1998 
  • BBC Good Homes (June) Cover Design for The Book Neiman Marcus, USA (May)

1997 
  • Crafts Magazine (Mar/Apr)

1996 
  • Homes and Gardens (Feb)
  • Machine Embroidery, Isabel Stanley, Anness Publishing
  • Crossing Strands, Innovation in Contemporary Textiles, Djanogly Art Gallery

1995 
  • Art and Craft, Korea (Jan)
  • Homes and Gardens (Mar)
 
1993 
  • Crafts Magazine (Oct)

Public Collections

  • Embroidered Buttons, Platt Hall Museum of Costume, Manchester
  • Panel for Costumer Gallery, Bankfield Museum, Halifax

Awards & Prizes

2001 
  • Leicester City Gallery Open Exhibition, Prizewinner
  • Nottingham Castle Open Exhibition, First Prize

1994 
  • Best New Exhibitor, Chelsea Craft Fair, London
  • Carroll Foundation Craft Award, Chelsea Craft Fair, London

1993 
  • Box Art, Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Prizewinner

1992 
  • Leicester City Gallery Open Exhibition, Prizewinner

Selected Commissions

2013 
  • Illustrations for Aldeburgh: A Song of the Sea by Tim Coates, Antique Collectors Club

2005 
  • Embroidered Awards for the ‘Enjoy England Excellence Awards’ East Midlands Development Agency

2004 
  • Two Hangings for central staircase of P&O Cruise Ship Arcadia

2000 
  • Panel for Costume Gallery, Bankfield Museum, Halifax

1999 
  • Cover Design for May Edition of The Book for Neiman Marcus, USA
© Michelle Holmes. All artwork on this website is protected by UK copyright law and may not be copied, reproduced, published, modified or used to create derivative artwork without prior written permission from the artist.
↑ Back to top of page
  • Home
  • My Work
    • Icons
    • Moons
    • Betty
    • Shops, Museums & Other Buildings
    • Birds
    • Brooches
    • Coastal & Figurative Work
    • Commissions
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Original Artwork
    • Original Bettys
    • Prints
    • Cards Sewing Kits etc