About

I am a textile artist based in East Lothian, Scotland, a county of farmland, woodlands, moors and coastal landscapes.

I have a passion for plant life, nature and rural landscapes. In my textile artworks, I blend layers of cloth and stitch, drawing inspiration from the colours, patterns and textures found in nature.

Creating art using fabric and thread adds a tactile quality to my work. I explore my emotional connections to places and use my materials and stitching to draw attention to the textural elements and atmosphere of the landscape. In contrast, for my works on paper, I use the subtle stitching to add an unexpected raised detail to the flat paper. 

Hand stitch is a slow and considered process, which creates space to think about the impacts of nature on our mental health, and the effects of humanity on the environment.

Being in nature generates a feeling of calmness, but biodiversity is dwindling and the land is suffering from erosion or nutrient depletion. I aim to bring attention to the beauty of nature and the need for a responsible environmental stewardship. 

I hold a degree in Botany with Microbiology and a PhD in Plant Science, and have worked in various technical writing and editing roles. Since 2018, I have been a technical editor, writer and curator for TextileArtist, where I am involved in the website writing team and their Stitch Club production team. I’m lucky to be able to blend my passions for both writing and textile art through this work. I’m also a member of the Society for Embroidered Work (SEW). Both TextileArtist and SEW promote contemporary textile art and its perception as a fine art form.

Instagram @heidiingramtextileart

Exhibitions

  • Reflections on Change, featuring my own original text, appliqué and hand stitch, was selected for The Time of Her Life IV, 2024. This exhibition featured the diverse and relatable work of 55 women artists responding to their thoughts, feelings and emotions as they traverse the restless waters of peri/menopause, before and beyond.
  • A selection of works on paper and fabric were exhibited in the exhibition Perceiving Nature at Norman Rea Gallery, University of York, 2024.
  • Undersea was selected for the juried exhibition Surface and Depth by the Society for Embroidered Work, Palazzo Velli Expo, Rome, 2021
  • Two artworks were selected for the juried exhibition Contemporary Stitched Art by the Society for Embroidered Work, Clerkenwell Gallery, London, 2019
  • Two artworks were selected as finalist entries for the National Needlecraft Awards (Best Original Embroidery Design and Best Miniature categories) and exhibited at the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show, Kensington Olympia, London, 2019
  • A selection of works were exhibited at the 3 Harbours Arts Festival @ Haddstock, 2018
  • A selection of works were exhibited at the St Abb’s Annual Art exhibition, 2018