Profile

Jessie Chorley is a London-based embroidery artist, author, designer and tutor.

Born in Kent in 1980, she spent her childhood in Rural North Wales.

The traditional technical skills and hands-on approach to living a creative life that she celebrates in her work and creative lifestyle today, were passed down to her from her own family of makers, during her home schooled education.

While still a student – studying for the BA in Fine Art Textile Practice (2002-2005) at Goldsmiths College, London – she chose to dedicate her life to making things and, shortly after graduating, she set up her own business as a full-time artist.

Over time, she has also become a tutor and published author, as well as running a shop/studio, selling her signature work in East London from
2007  to 2021.

Hand embroidery as a form of drawing, appliqué techniques and printmaking are at the heart of jessie’s practice as an artist-maker.

Needle and thread are her drawing tools. She uses them to create scenes and stories, combining stitched images and words, largely on preloved fabric. Collecting is something that goes hand-in-hand with jessie’s making process.

She is drawn to items that display marks of a previous life and often sources materials from antique markets, fairs and junk shops. Her ever-growing personal archive of ‘found’ items serves as her ongoing inspiration and is frequently her starting point for an artwork or series of artworks.

Jessie finds inspiration in things that have been discarded or put to one
side – fabrics cut directly from time worn and discarded clothing and homeware is my most frequently used materal. Found and repurposed threads are equally import in her work.

Jessie runs her world in stitch, fabric and thread from her South London
studio. She regularly delivers private one-one masterclasses from here, as well as at venues worldwide. Her highly collected embroidery projects and
signature edit of fabrics, threads and one-off found items are available to purchase (shipped internationally) from her online shop.