Opening reception: Friday, 21 March 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Meet the artists #1: Friday, 21 March 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Meet the artists #2: Sunday, 30 March 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Renowned British textile artists Cas Holmes and Deena Beverley, well known for their richly textured, evocative work in stitch and mixed media, collaborated for the first time in their timely Batsford Book ‘Soulful Stitch: Finding Creativity in Crisis’, widely regarded as ‘capturing the zeitgeist.’

Here, they share a wealth of their beautiful work from this title, including pieces exhibited for the first time.  ‘Soulful Stitch’ documents the artists’ diverse stitched responses to crises both personal and global.

Often using found materials, repurposed threads and personal items packed with meaning, the artists have created work of deep emotional resonance which speaks to anyone facing life’s daily vicissitudes.

Both artists have lived experience of having to forge new paths through big life challenges, making this book their most heartfelt yet. Their new work demonstrates how even in the toughest times, creativity in textile art not only helped keep them afloat, but helped them discover ways of thriving despite life’s wildest storms.

This show includes contributions to the phenomenally successful international invitational participatory textile arts project ‘unidentified meaningful objects’ (UMO) created by Liesbeth Werts, shared by Cas Holmes in her popular online offerings and in person, and to which Deena Beverley has contributed. Details of how visitors can make their own UMO, will be available at the show, along with recycled materials with which to make them.

The artists envisage a visit to this thoughtful, and thought provoking exhibition as a meditation on how to navigate challenging times using the creative textile art which has so soothed, comforted, and connected them to the creative parts of themselves, to each other, and to the wider world, during some of the most challenging times of their lives.

Come, see, enjoy, make, enjoy. Recharge your emotional and spiritual batteries with ‘Soulful Stitch: The Exhibition.’

Cas Holmes

Internationally renowned textile artist, tutor and writer Cas Holmes takes an eclectic view on how the personal and everyday, different places, nature and the landscape can inform textile work. She travels, teaches and exhibits internationally and is a best selling Batsford author. Her many-layered, atmospheric pieces, often incorporating found materials, are collected and commissioned worldwide. The connections between land, place and environment, found materials and daily observations are a constant source of inspiration for her work, which constantly evolves. Cas is based in Kent, where the natural environment around her is a source of both inspiration and support. Her daily walks in nature, immortalised in textiles, provide material she explores in the sketching and stitching core to her work.

Deena Beverley

Award-winning writer, tutor, and artist Deena Beverley writes prolifically about textiles, notably the embroidery and mixed media central to her own creative practice. A regular contributor to 'Embroidery' and  'Selvedge'; author of many books on arts and crafts;  Deena's meticulous attention to detail as a writer is reflected in her textile art.

 Using techniques from simple hand stitch, to imaginative intuitive quilting over hand drawn imagery, Deena’s stylist’s eye for colour and texture shines through.

 Previously a costume designer and art director, Deena's cherished collection of vintage textiles provides an endless source of inspiration, and repurposed materials for new work.