Ailish Henderson is a textile artist whose work tells interesting stories using a diverse range of media that is always grounded in cloth. In Narrative Textiles she explains her working methods and how you can harness them in your own work to create unique, deeply personal textile art pieces.

Henderson encourages you to draw on your own personal memorabilia to create work that is meaningful to you, the intention being to capture a moment in time, a memory to treasure, a look on a face, a glance of love from a pet.

Along with work from the author, the book also showcases work from textile artists such as Aran Illingworth, Jenni Dutton, Woo Jin Joo and Jordan Cunliffe. It includes:

• Materials: where to source cloth, using found and recycled materials, curating vintage fabric, incorporating precious family pieces in your work.

• Processes: finding inspiration, creating mood boards, keeping sketchbooks, developing work from drawings, capturing character.

• Techniques: screenprinting, hand and machine stitching, appliqué, mixed-media collage.

• Subject matter: the narrative line, self-portraits, family snapshots, history, identity, travel, favourite animals, even famous faces.

Ailish Henderson encourages the reader to work with freedom, instinct and honesty, bringing in a wealth of different techniques to create authentic stories in cloth, and most importantly, to enjoy the activity along the way.

Batsford, 128pp, 23cm x 28cm, illustrated hardcover, 2024