Anne Kelly

After a very long time at home and participating in mainly online activities, it feels as if the UK is opening up a bit with a busy few months ahead.

It was wonderful to drop off my work, including ‘Italian Landscape’ (below) at the wonderful West Dean College for a tutor’s exhibition. It will be on show during May and June, dates tbc. I am teaching ‘Stitchbooks Inspired by a Walk in the Park’ there at the end of August – just two places remaining. Details here.

I am in the final stages of planning for ‘Well Travelled’ my major solo exhibition at Ruthin Craft Centre, from 28 May – 17 July this year, all being well. I have made a 3D plan for the hanging team and am hoping to visit when restrictions ease.

I was delighted to visit the amazing Gees Bend exhibition at the Alison Jacques Gallery in London recently – very colourful and inspiring work, by the ground breaking group of women.

I really enjoyed designing a new kit for the lovely French General in LA. The ‘Stitched Tree of Life’ is a live Zoom workshop on 26 June – you can sign up here.

I’ve been busy teaching workshops online to various guilds and groups – you can see a full list of available classes here.

It was a complete joy to help to judge the Batsford Prize this year. The work was varied and impressive given the unusual and stressful time that they have been working through. The shortlist is due to be announced very soon.

I’m looking forward to seeing this book published later this year. My work and an interview with me will be included. More details here.

Also very pleased to see this book review in the SAQA magazine of ‘Textile Travels’.

Finally my thoughts are with my friends in India during their terrible second wave of the pandemic. You can support local craftspeople and their work, fairly traded and run by Isha Sharma through her company Aahilya.