My love of textiles began at an early age. I grew up in a home filled with craft, surrounded daily by the creativity and talent of my mother, a gifted textile designer and teacher. Every corner held inspiration: threads gathered across tables, books open mid-project, and the comforting, familiar environment of her workroom.

This upbringing led me to study textiles at Nottingham Trent University, where I specialised in surface design and embroidery. After graduating, I began designing embroidery for high street fashion and creating handmade evening bags, which were stocked in stores across London and Europe, including with brands such as Paul Smith and Erickson Beamon.
A shift into commercial buying deepened my knowledge of global textiles. I travelled widely to Portugal, India, and beyond, learning about diverse production techniques and the economies of scale that support the textile industry.


Today, I find myself returning to where it all began: the happy pursuit of stitching and taking inspiration from my surroundings. I now specialise in freehand embroidery, I work intuitively, creating textures and pictures that speak of life, memory, and love. For me, embroidery is both a connection to the past and a grounding creative practice in the present.















KATE RICKARD // 2025