'Renegade stitcher' helps bring good to the world

An artist who describes himself as a "renegade stitcher" has praised an organisation he says brings "good to the world" through the power of craft.

Stewart Francis Easton has produced a series of giant textile murals for an exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of Craftspace, a Birmingham-based arts charity.

Over the past four decades, the group has curated and commissioned work by 2,500 artists in over 500 exhibitions, viewed by 2.8m people, it said.

"What's so wonderful about Craftspace is the way they connect with people," said Easton.

"In their workshops and projects, which often focus on specific communities, there's a real sense of inclusion and celebration - simply the act of creating and the joy of being together.

"They do it so well - craft as a means to make the world better - it's wonderful," he added.

His connection with the charity dates back to 2010, when he worked with young people embroidering graffiti tags.

A later project, Making Moves, involved working with an Hispanic community group in Warwickshire.

"We made a giant tablecloth, because they all really liked having parties," he explained.

He collected drawings from participants, which were then printed onto the fabric and stitched by the group, he said.

"You would have fathers and sons sitting stitching together, and chatting," he remembers.

"The workshops would just be full of laughter, smiles and lots of biscuits."

Other projects saw him create an interactive sound-based quilt, stitched with conductive thread, activated by touch.

The latest commission, four quilted hangings that are on display at Midlands Arts Centre, depict the charity's 40-year story using 40 objects chosen by staff.

Featured items include a sewing kit, chocolate box and a hand-carved teaspoon made by a mental wellbeing group, "now stained and smoothed from stirring many cups of tea and coffee," the charity said.

The artist, who also paints, illustrates and creates digital pieces, said he was entirely self-taught, taking up embroidery while studying for an MA in Coventry.

"I bought a little book from a charity shop of 32 stitches, and just taught myself one," he said.

"The stitches that I use are sort of freeform, random, I'm not strict - I'm more of a renegade stitcher."

Originally from Coventry but now living in London, Easton said he and other male embroiderers had sometimes attracted attention for working in a medium some still considered as a female skill.

"There's been lots of debate about the attention men get for stitching compared to women, which is just plain wrong," he said.

"There needs to be more to celebrate women and the work they do."

He also uses embroidery as a form of meditation, sometimes working for eight or nine hours a day.

"I've just finished a commission for a record cover design, and they wanted it stitched, so when I'm working on a project like that, I will stitch from when I get up to when I go to bed," he explained.

He described the process as almost retreat-like.

"You're quiet, you're reflecting and you enter a sort of internal space which is really quiet and peaceful."

He is now researching for a PhD exploring how hand embroidery can be used to practice Buddhist teachings or dharma.

"It's about using embroidery as a tool to slow down and move into a different mindset," he said.

This approach sits alongside his abstract work.

"With abstraction you remove any form of story - you're just stitching flat planes of colour," he said.

"I was trying to come up with a technique where I could match my breathing to the activity of stitching, which was good when you've got a long thread, but when your thread [shortens] your breathing just speeds up.

"So if I'm working in this manner, I've started to just focus and to watch and whenever my mind starts wandering - about dinner or something - to come back to what I'm doing."

His work is largely sold in the US, where he is represented by galleries, but said he was hoping to do more in the UK.

"Most of my work is over there which is a bit pants at times," he said.

"I'll make all this work for an exhibition, ship it all over and I hardly ever get to see it all in the space."

Tariffs were also making life difficult, he said.

As part of his next projects he aims to launch a design studio producing quilts, textiles and hangings.

His work can be seen across Coventry, especially Fargo Village, where he has been commissioned to produce a new mural for Just Dropped In Records.

He also teaches on an MA illustration course for Falmouth University and said he was thankful Craftspace had helped support his career since the beginning.

"It was one of the first organisations to support me and it helped propel me forward. I would like this opportunity to give something back."

Alongside 40 Objects for 40 Years at the MAC until 12 April an exhibition Made in the Middle features 37 artists highlighting innovative contemporary crafts being made in the region today.

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