about
Whilst the musicality of her work takes precedence; Imogen aims to use embroidery as a means of self-expression which does not rely on verbal communication. This enables her work to take on a multi- sensory approach. The introspective and meditative qualities of the craft of hand embroidery enables Imogen to project her thoughts through the intimate connection between her hands and materials. This results in illustrative, rhythmic and colourful hand embroideries.
Imogen prioritises the materials she’s uses when designing her embroideries; the importance of using reclaimed and recycled materials emphasises the themes of spontaneous thought, adaptability, and responsive creativity. There are also further ethical implications that are extremely important to Imogen’s practice; it is her belief she has a responsibility as a maker to be conscious of the consumerist side of creating; what is required for a piece usually already exists and simply must be found. She also finds greater beauty and satisfaction in found materials as the finished embroidery becomes more unique.
Working within the textile art context, Imogen react to the materials she has found and manipulates them with her technical embroidery skills. Elements of spontaneity continue through the embroidery as she continues to infuse her work with the same stream-of-conscious aspect present in the design process. This means that her designs may change throughout the creative process depending on her reaction to her materials and how they interact with the design and the collection altogether.
Education
BA (hons) First Class Degree in Hand Embroidery, Royal School of Needlework, 2024
Competitions
Hand and Lock THE PRIZE Student Textile Art - Winner
The Worshipful Company of Glovers of London 2022 Student Glove Competition: Runner – up
Bradford Textile Society Student Competition 2023
Exhibitions+ Press
The Knitting and Stitch Show 2024, Alexandra Palace, Harrogate Convention Centre, October – November 2024
Hand and Lock THE PRIZE Exhibition 2024, November 2024
Omi Art Gallery ‘Art Heals’ London Exhibition, July 2024
New Designers, Part 1, Business Design Centre, July 2024
Graduate Fashion Week 2024, The Truman Brewery
Royal School of Needlework Graduate Degree Show 2024, Hampton Court Palace
Not My Beautiful House, 2024, Kingston upon Thames
“EXILE: sono oriunda”, The Hub, National Centre for Craft and Design, Lincolnshire, May - July 2023
“150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to Catwalk” ,Fashion and Textile Museum, 2022
“Spotlight on our guild graduates”
Available at: https://embroiderersguild.com/campbell-imogen/
“2024 Winners”
Available at:
https://handembroidery.com/the-prize/2024-finalists/2024-imogen-campbell/
“Imogen Campbell: Expressing Musicality and Emotion Through Embroidery”, 2024, Omi Art Gallery,
Available at:
BBC Article featuring Fields of Everywhen Hot air balloon,
Available at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-62506497
CV
experience
Freelance embroiderer
London Embroidery Studio in collaboration with Loro Piana
November 2024 - January 2025
Providing luxury personalisation embroidery services on the shop floor of Harrods during the Loro Piana Christmas takeover “Workshop of Wonders” as a celebration of the 100 year anniversary of Loro Piana, and the 175 year anniversary of Harrods, Knightsbridge.
Curatorial and archival assistant
Royal School of Needlework
September 2024
Assisting the setting up and general preparation of the Royal School of Needlework 2024 exhibition Tales of Textiles, as well as handling, researching, photographing and cataloguing historical embroideries and textiles in the Royal School of Needlework archive.
Hand Embroiderer
Ruben Montini – “Altarpieces”
January – February 2024
Part of a hand embroidery team appliqueing letters and layered fabrics onto compositional formats defined by Montini.
Sewing Teacher
Magpie Makes
October 2023 – April 2024
Leading children’s textile and hand sewing classes during after school and weekend sessions, as well as sewing parties. Ages vary from 6 to 12 years old.
Hand Embroiderer / Photoshoot Dresser
S. S. DALEY
June 2023
Designing and producing garment embroideries ready for shooting and purchasing in the S. S. DALEY London studio. Onsite embroidery and garment construction for SS 24 Collection photoshoot in Richmond Upon Thames, as well as set dressing and dressing models.
Archival Maintenance Assistant
COSPROP
May 2023
Preparing historical extant shoes and accessories to be catalogued for the online COSPROP Archive.
Hand Embroiderer
MADDUX Creative – “WOW! House”
April 2023
Creating wet felted fungi inspired forms that were used as set pieces in an installation for the “3am room” / “Courtyard Room”
Hand Embroiderer
Alexander McQueen - Live Project
March – June 2023
Briefed by the embroidery team at Alexander McQueen I was tasked to create a fashion collection evoking the essence of the brand – “Unexpected and Unconventional”. My project included artworks, fashion illustrations and embroideries exploring an ultra-chic alien invasion upon earth.
Hand Embroiderer
Susan Aldworth – “EXILE: sono oriunda”- Live Project
December 2022 – May 2023
I created an embroidery on a vintage child’s christening robe documenting and illustrating an excerpt of an account of the experiences of an Italian immigrant, specifically the effect of Italian fascism upon rural Italian families.
Hand Embroiderer
Royal School of Needlework – King Charles III Coronation
February 2023
Contributed to the collective embroidery project by the Royal School of Needlework’s Embroidery Studio for the Anointing Screen for the Coronation of King Charles III.
Hand Embroiderer / Show Dresser
ERDEM – AW 24
February 2023
Hand embroidering haute couture garments ready for the AW 24 runway in the ERDEM London studio. Working as a dresser backstage for this runway and providing last minute embroidery in preparation.
Hand Embroiderer
Beatrice Mayfield – “Reclaimed”
September 2022
Working in a team of studio hand embroiderers to produce several large-scale wall hangings inspired by the architecture of OXO Tower Wharf Barge house. Using techniques such as beading and quilting.
Hand Embroiderer
Kirsty McLeod – “The Red Dress Project”
February 2022
Adding details to the internationally curated “Red Dress” which celebrates the stories of women and embroidery worldwide. I used this opportunity to celebrate and memorialise trans women’s lives during a Brighton-based community event “Pink with Envy” during the time “The Red Dress” returned to the Royal School of Needlework.
Hand Embroiderer
“Fields Of Everywhen” Neil Musson & Jono Retallick
October 2021 – February 2022
In response to Thamesmead resident’s stories of living in the area, I was tasked to produce an embroidery that visualised the story of Greg Warner BEM and his 20 plus years of volunteering at Crossness Pumping station.