The high craft of grand embroidery
- Laura creates hand-embroidered pieces and sculptures
- She works with precious metal threads, mixing various techniques
- Her embroideries are featured in international films and exhibitions
Laura Baverstock was born and bred in Surrey, a county which borders the outskirts of London and is famous for being the location of Henry VIII's Hampton Court Palace. This historic palace is also the home of the Royal School of Needlework, where Laura developed her technical education in textile art and needlework. After completing her three-year degree, she specialised in precious metalwork embroidery. With a focus on the richness of historical craft, Laura started her practice in 2016, creating her own artworks as well as pieces commissioned by the film industry (Murder on the Orient Express, Emma, Mary Queen of Scots) and by Savile Row tailors and private clients. Her refined creativity and deep technical mastery have earned her wide recognition, including awards from the Goldsmith Craft and Design Council and the membership to the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers as a Trade Freeman.
Interview
- You work for both fashion and cinema. Do you have a preference?
- I love the stylistic side of fashion embroidery, especially in haute couture. On the other hand, working for the cinema allows me more freedom in creative input, and draws upon more historical and technical aspects of embroidery design.
- Do you craft your own pieces as well?
- Yes, I find inspiration in the natural world and in architectural details, in order to push the boundaries of my creativity and create 3D, sculptural pieces and framed artworks. I start from illustrations and photography and then I apply a variety of techniques to develop the piece.
- What is the relationship between technique and creativity in your craft?
- Technical foundations are so important, they are grounding. There are countless techniques to be mastered, but also boundaries to be pushed in order to experiment in new ways. Understanding the qualities of the materials, not only in how they feel but also how they move and refract the light, is extremely important for creative fluidity.
- Is your craft endangered?
- I would say that specialist embroidery is rare rather than endangered, but there are many techniques that might get lost if not preserved. Thanks to the Prince’s Foundation I had the privilege to hold some masterclasses in order to introduce this specialist craft to a wider audience.
Laura Baverstock is a master artisan: she began her career in 2016 and she started teaching in 2016
Where
Laura Baverstock
