Embroidery exhibition

Apr 8 2009 Birkenhead News

BRIMSTAGE’S Voirrey Embroidery Centre is hosting a major new exhibition by former pupils of one of Britain’s foremost textile artists.

Ann McTavish developed a lush style that generated worldwide commissions, before her life was tragically cut short by cancer in 2005.

She left behind a dedicated group of students, who would join her for workshops in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.

And now those pupils, dubbed ‘Xann’, are set to exhibit more than 90 pieces of textile art and embroidery, in a vast range of styles, as a tribute to their former teacher.

The Voirrey’s Tony Braithwaite said: “Her pupils are so enamoured with her style, which is a very lush type of embroidery, that they carried on doing it.

“It’s a really good quality exhibition.

“One piece is about eight foot long, and everything is done by hand.”

The show has been entitled ‘Random’ in recognition of the diversity of the artists’ work, but which maintains a common thread back to their former mentor.

Tony said: “It’s a great tribute to her and it’s lovely to see her style remembered.

“It’s a tribute to Ann that a lot of her style is still carried on and a tribute to her teaching.”