Karen Nicol Has a Passion For Embroidery

Growing up, Karen Nicol had her mother and sister to look up to–the two being passionate embroiderers. But when it came to her own creative vocation, it took Nicol some time to own up to her heritage. “I wanted to do something with a bit more street cred,” she admitted in an interview with Upcyclist, “but when I began art college I realized I was instinctively better at textiles and hugely drawn to the massive potential and diversity of embroidery.”

Now a renowned textile artist, with a BA in embroidery from the Manchester Metropolitan University and a Master’s Degree in textiles from the Royal College of Art in London, Nicol couldn’t have any more street cred. Her clients include A-list celebrities and fashion brands like Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, and she was even commissioned to do work for the King of Qatar and the Pope (you heard that right).

Based in London, she’s been working from her studio for over 25 years now. “For my work in fashion I collaborate with fashion designers and create samples of embroidery designs, often inspired by some given theme,” she relays her work process. “I work in a completely ‘what if’ scenario, trying out things that may look new and fresh. We then develop these samples to work on garments and I do the first pieces for the shows. In interiors, it’s quite similar but different scales and practicalities.”

Take a look at some of her designs in the gallery below and follow her on Instagram for more.