Painted Pigeons & Lady’s Tresses, 2019, commissioned by Deco Publique for Vintage by the Sea.

Painted Pigeons and Lady's Tresses is a collection of 8 embroidered patches for Morecambe. Inspired by the social and environmental history of Morecambe Bay, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, I researched the natural world, the way local communities protect their town, and the long history of entertainment, when Morecambe was a popular holiday destination for northern workers.

Each patch was inspired by a different element of Morecambe. I exchanged a patch for a postcard, on the back of which someone would share their memory or story of Morecambe.

Inspired by:

• the Arnside tidal bore

• a plea to local people, particularly dog owners to try not to disturb the vast numbers of birds - waders through to common gulls - with roosts on the beach

• the local beach clean campaign, Love My Beach

• Wakes Week (when factories would shut in the summer for holidays, with workers coming from northern cities to the coast

• Painted Pigeons - 1930s Winter Gardens act

• the rare orchid ‘Autumn Lady’s Tresses’

• Betty Jackson with her monkeys and dogs, a 1930s Winter Gardens performer.