My love for pattern, light & colour has roots in the beautiful lace my family once manufactured. Thomas Stocks my Great Grandfather started his lace business in Victoria Mill, Draycott in the early 1900's. The business later moved to Draycott Mill where Grandfather Frederick, Great Aunt Peggy and my father Barry Stocks continued the business. In the 1960's Thomas Stocks merged with Birkin & Company, Nottingham's largest lace manufacturer. My father then became Director of manufacturing at Birkins which went from strength to strength becoming one of the world's leading lace manufacturers.

 ‘Losing Lace’ my community based arts project explored the disappearance of the industry, saddened by this loss I wanted to piece together the facts, preserve and celebrate the history of lace manufacturing in the East Midlands by creating an archive of interviews, photographs, memories and stories connected to the industry. I carried out this research through visiting old factory sites with my father, gathering artefacts & interviewing people connected to the history of lace; workshops for schoolchildren & the elderly were also delivered within the East Midlands. The 20 paintings created were my response to lace pattern books dating from 1912, these were exhibited across the region alongside my lace installation of artefacts gathered during the research. The project was supported by Arts Council England, the National Lottery & Erewash Borough Council.

I continue to be inspired by lace often delivering lace art workshops and talks. Please contact me if you would like to make a booking for your organisation or school. 

To follow my new 'Legacy of Lace' arts project for 2021 please go to the Legacy of Lace page./legacy-of-lace