About Niamh
Niamh Wimperis is one of the most colourful and dynamic embroidery artists currently practicing.
According to Niamh, she’s “all about feminism and plants”, and finds a lot of her inspiration from her vast collection of house plants, and childhood memories of her grandparents house, Selsley Herb and Goat Farm. Her work has evolved from ultra political – – with her feminist pieces featured in Ms Magazine, Buzzfeed and The Huff Post – – to this more calming botanical style.
Niamh achieved a Masters Degree in Contemporary Craft in 2017 from Plymouth College of Art. Her final piece, an interactive installation titled ‘A Feeling Of Safety, Perhaps’ was exhibited in the MA show and as part of Dwell, a two woman collaboration for Plymouth Art Weekend at Plymouth Art Centre.
In 2018 Niamh was chosen to be on the BBC2 programme, The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts. This was a “living history” reality show in which Niamh and 5 other talented crafts people lived in a William Morris-esque arts and crafts commune for a month, complete with wearing Victorian clothes, eating Victorian food and using Victorian tools. The 4 part BBC2 show aired in January 2019. You can read more about her experience here, and watch the series here.
Niamh now lives in Camden Town with her partner Alex, a watch maker. She is currently writing her first book, continues to make work (including commissions), and has launched her #WEStitchKit – a monthly embroidery kit subscription box. You can find about more about her kit subscription here.
Signature Technique
Botanical Embroidery
Top Tips
- Use the Satin Stitch for a shimmer and shine effect.
- Stitch on two layers to avoid warp and seeing stitches on the back.
- Keep your fabric tight as a drum in your hoop or your piece will pucker.
- Nothing in nature is perfect, so don’t be afraid if a stitch appears strange or off the centre line. That’s how it appears in real life.
- The Fly Stitch is wonderfully versatile; use it for pine branches, flowers and leaves.
- If you find your thread is suddenly shorter, you probably have a knot. Use your needle to pull the knot apart.
Videos
Books and Patterns
Posts
Water Water Exhibition in Henley
An exhibition of work by girls from the Contemporary Quilt group which is running until 5pm tomorrow (Tues 19th). Organised by Kate Findlay it is well worth a visit if you are in the neighbourhood but if not don't worry as Valerie and the cameras will be there tomorrow so you will be able to enjoy it from the comfort of your home early in 2014.
Newsletters
Today was the day we sent out the second of our newsletters for November – did you get yours? If not please let us know. We were recently forced to change our email provider and we have discovered that certain email addresses are a little more difficult to send through to – these may include those at blueyonder; tiscali; talk talk and aol (and that includes Jennie and Valerie so we aren’t singling anyone out!!!) Our Tech team are trying to get to the bottom of the problem or indeed find a work-around, so please bear with us. You can read the current missive by clicking here: Don’t forget that you can watch on your iPad (but you might need a little help from Puffin!).
News update15th November 2013
It’s Friday again so there must be some new videos [...]