Anne Frost

The majority of the Textile pieces I have created have been influenced by reality rather than abstract ideas.

I trained as a calligrapher and heraldic painter in the 1970s and that influence still creeps through.

I acknowledged my growing interest in textiles by enrolling on a part-time course at Jewel & Esk Valley College and this led me to do my 4 year City & Guilds Creative Embroidery Part 1 & Part 2  Diploma course at Edinburgh’s Telford College, finishing this in 2008. I particularly enjoyed the variety of different techniques that the College encouraged you to experiment with, and being encouraged to work outside my comfort zone, which I might not otherwise have done.
I went on to study a Masterclass course with Stitch Business in Durham which took my learning curve even further.

In 1999 I was instrumental in starting up the Aberlady Craft Group which still meets weekly in Aberlady East Lothian, we were also  successful to attract a grant from the Scottish Arts Council to work on specific community projects. One of the Group’s earliest works was a large wall hanging for the Village Hall (14ft) which I helped design and co-ordinate to mark the Millennium, our group also designed and made a wall hanging for the Lin Berwick Trust Holiday home in Dirleton, East Lothian.

I  opened a shop in Aberlady with Gallery space for Textile Artists in 2005 called Sew in Stitches, where I teach a variety of free machining/textile/printing/recycling classes to encourage more people to experiment and be happy!

Overlapping my textile route I was also Chairperson for 5 years of the Poldrate Arts and Crafts Centre where we had many tutors teaching a wide variety of specialised crafts.

In 2012 I had also been involved in the Sew Forth Textile and Craft Group which meets monthly in Gullane Village Hall. We encourage people to come together and try different textile based crafts including a stitching theme.

In 2016 I incorporated a café/tearoom into the sew in stitches area with dedicated exhibition space for local groups or individuals.

In the future I would like to continue experimenting with textile pieces that prompt the viewers’ mind to think. I would also wish to use this learning curve for relaxation and enjoyment.

During 2021 I began my journey into drawing graphite portraits, which I am still enjoying today.

Anne Frost