Fiona Cowell

Gallery

Mother Nature I, Human Nature II

Mother Nature I, Human Nature II, two embroidered coral reef panels in living colour and bleached white
Mother Nature I, Human Nature II2022Hand embroidery, whitework, stumpwork34 × 5 × 28 cmSold

Created for the 2022 Shrewsbury Drapers Company competition, this two-part embroidery piece explores the contrasting states of coral reefs through intricate hand embroidery techniques including stumpwork, whitework, felting and needle weaving.

Mother Nature I celebrates the vibrant diversity and life of a healthy, thriving reef, while Human Nature II reflects the devastation caused by climate change, depicting bleached, skeletal coral and environmental decline.

Together, the work highlights the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and the profound impact of human activity beneath the waves.

Shrewsbury Drapers Company Textile Design Competition, Beneath the Waves 2022, Silver Award

Detail of the living coral reef in Mother Nature I
Detail of the bleached coral reef in Human Nature II
Stumpwork, felting and needle weaving in Mother Nature I
Human Nature II in its white frame

Photography: Stuart James