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
Finding Ruby – A Patchwork of People
We are now looking for new people to join us and we would love to connect with other people, groups and communities and share our experience and some time learning and crafting.
The idea is to complete this work and the rose quilt plus another community quilt project by the end of 2013 and to design and produce a beautiful book and exhibition all about it.
A big thankyou from ‘Roses from the Heart’
For the past 7 years Christina Henri, artist in residence at the Female Factory in Hobart, has been orchestrating one of the world's largest art works. Now it is nearing completion and it is time to take it to the next level. This is going to support Hobart and help transform Tasmania into a powerhouse of creativity. I am writing to you because she has been in contact with you over the past few years.
Information on an App for Ipad users in Canada
Here is some information from a viewer in Canada who wanted to watch on her Ipad: I purchased the Photon app for $4.99 Canadian and it does the job. Thanks for your help and your very quick response. It's near midnight in my neck of the woods, so I only watched a short video. I'll jump in to more tomorrow. Leah Hope this helps others of you.