Artist Creates Magical Botanical Embroideries

English embroidery artist Adam Pritchett draws inspiration from nature, creating tiny, minimalist embroideries that incorporate flora and fauna. With a BA in Fine Arts from Coventry University, he focused on textile sculptural forms and has turned to embroidery after graduating.

“I have always had an interest in textiles, I remember making fabric toys and puppets during school holidays with my Grandmother,” he shared with Textile Artist. “I think the real moment that it became a fascination to me was while studying at university and I distinctly recall workshops learning about the structure of fabrics and how they are made and just being enthralled by the way that thread could be woven to create beautiful fabrics. That is when I learnt to weave, and how to knit and spin yarn, it really was a new beginning for me as a maker.”

Dreaming of sewing for costumes, he now focuses on hand embroidering using traditional methods and stitches. “I also work with a lot of hand dyed fabrics that I produce myself, often incorporating appliqué and beading in with hand stitching,” he says. “I like to build up layers of stitches to create raised effects, without using stump work wires, incorporating a number these techniques has produced some really interesting results and all leads back to how I enjoy experimentation with known methods to create something different.”

And talking about his inspiration he adds: “much of my work has botanical, natural themes, and I am a huge science/nature buff. Documentaries about the natural world always are a huge source of inspiration for me… I also read as much as I can, and often find an idea is sparked by a fantasy novel that I’ve been reading, and I think that’s where much of the myth and magic themes in my work come from.”

Take a look at some of his magical creations in the gallery below.