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
A couple of comments from you
Dear Val and Jennie,
Thank you for bringing the superb fabric bundle The Lakes, to your site. The colours are mouth wateringly beautiful and I would love a pack.
Your site is excellent I love the way you include some different skills, as it is always exciting to learn something new. Many thanks
Margaret I have been a subscribed member for a few months now and just love the site.
I have just became a grandmother for the first time and intend to make my new grandson Jennie's yoyo caterpillar for Christmas. Barbara
1st November 2013
If it’s Friday there must be something new to watch! [...]
Piping a cushion
Hi, I have just followed Jennie Rayment's video on piping for a cushion, and am delighted with the result. It is something I have avoided all my life (I am 64!) and now I cannot for the life of me understand why I was so afraid of it.
The piping I have done is, in fact, for the edging of the P&Q magazine project "Hand Quilting for All", which simply tells you to buy piping cord and insert into the bias strips (which I had just cut following the instructions). I bought 5mm cord hoping that was right. I now cannot wait to try it out on a cushion.