Drawing with Thread Embroidered Photography Workshop - Threads 2026

Explore Zoe's practice through this embroidery workshop. Become inspired by her story and work currently on display within the Gallery.

Learn the core skills of embroidery and draw out your design to be applied to your photographs. There will be photographs and postcards provided but please bring copies of your own images too. This process works best on a thicker paper rather than regular printer paper.

Use colour and pattern to add texture and hilight meaning within your personal memories.

There will be stencils provided of some morifs that can be applied to your designs.

This workshop is suitable for those age 14+.

Artist bio:

Zoe Boswell is a Leeds-based artist working with contemporary embroidery as a fine art practice. Her work transforms the mundane into works of art, using vintage photographs, postcards, and everyday materials as alternative canvases. Through the act of stitching, she disrupts the fixed realities these objects present, reworking the unknown memories to create new visual narratives.

Zoe’s work utilises the traditional craft of hand embroidery, whilst simultaneously challenging the medium’s historic connotations. Through the use of unconventional methods and non-traditional surfaces, she subverts expectations of both material and technique. This shift in materiality introduces challenges within the making process and invites viewers to reconsider the boundaries between craft, memory, and fine art.

Her work is often displayed in a way that allows viewers to move around each piece, encountering both the front and reverse. The back reveals an unintended, and at times chaotic, composition of threads—messy, intricate, and unexpectedly beautiful. In exposing this usually hidden side, Zoe draws a parallel to the imperfect and layered nature of human experience, where what is concealed is as significant as what is seen.

About our Threads Textile Festival

This workshop is taking place as part of Sunny Bank Mills' annual celebration of the art of textiles; featuring a series of workshops, new exhibitions, talks and Textile fair. This year’s Threads Festival will take place across the site of Sunny Bank Mills on Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th May.

Find out more about our Threads Textile Festival weekend on our website.

See the full Threads Textile Festival workshop collection.

About the venue

Sunny Bank Mills is an inspirational cultural destination in the heart of the local community of Farsley, Leeds. Founded in 1829, these glorious Mills are being regenerated by the sixth generation of the family owners, creating a wonderful blend of work, leisure and culture.

Course terms and booking conditions

Workshop and course bookings can be cancelled and refunded up until 7 days before the scheduled start date. As materials and equipment are ordered in advance, we regret that refunds cannot be offered less than 7 days before the workshop date. Please note that Eventbrite’s booking fee is non-refundable. If we need to cancel the course for any reason your ticket will be fully refunded.

Accessibility

The venue of this workshop is on the 3rd floor of the 1912 Mill, which is accessed via three flights of stairs or a wheelchair accessible lift.

There are accessible toilets on the ground and 2nd floor of the venue. We will have attendants on hand to offer assistance throughout the day. If you have any queries prior to your booking, please email [email protected].

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