Insider view
Ailish quietly questions the impact events experienced have on our ongoing narrative line. Strong memories built in childhood may only come to light decades later, where they can take on new meaning and finally be understood. Her practice researches the connection between Emotional Repair x Making - It is her belief founded on evidence-based investigations that across creative disciplines, there can be a form of restoration for the author of works, brought about via the act of making, not the outcome itself - Maker: Mended. Thematically this vocalises the embracement of damage through the outworking of ones hands. This evidences itself in both written and practical forms - a celebration of life and character in tandem with wellbeing. Her work takes many forms, yet she always walks back to her Fine Art roots and her love of imparting a story, whether this is visually observed via her drawing, painting, mixed-media, textiles or prose.
Relevant Education
2020 BA Textiles (hons)
2012 City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Design and Stitched Textiles (Embroidery)
2009 Art and Design A-Level (Grade A)
Selected Periodicals (Print and Digital)
2025 Embroidery January / February 2025
2024 WHAT Women Create Winter 2024 Issue 25
2024 The Textile Curator - 15 minutes with Ailish Henderson
2024 Narrative Textiles. Daphne’s Diary Number 6 2024 (print)
2024 Using Art to Heal. FAIRE (online)
2023 Maker: Mended, (exhibition pre-show self penned article) Embroidery. November/December 2023 (print)
2023 Outstanding In Their Field. (exhibition review) Embroidery. July/August 2023 (Print)
2023 My Happy Place. September 2023. No.90. Modern Gardens (Print)
2023 Interview with Lesley Woods. Embroidery. March/April 2023 (Print)
2022 Shop Feature. Embroidery. September/October 2022 (Print)
2021 Stitched Portraits. Embellish #47 (Australia)
2021 Spotlight. Ailish Henderson. Textile Artist. Create Whimsy
2021 Scarves with a story. Daphne’s Diary. Number 6.
2021 Artist Profile. Textile Curator. (0nline)
2020 Picture Perfect. Embroidery. Volume 71. November/December 2020 (Print)
2019 (Exhibition coverage) Maker: Mended. Textile Art Magazine (Online) (German)
2019 (Exhibition coverage) Maker: Mended. Embroidery (March/April 2019)
2019 The Sprint Knitting and Stitching Show (Programme)
2018 (Artist Interview) Textile Artist. (Online)
2018 Stitched Collage Portraits. Cloth Paper Scissors. (Jan/Feb)
2017 (Illustration of work) in: Selvedge Issue 74 Wild
2017 (Illustration of work) in: Embroidery
2017 (Illustration of work) in: CRAFTS Issue 268
2017 (Self-penned Critique) We Are OCA (Online) (2nd August)
2016 (Feature article) Inspired Vol. 5, Published by Be Creative with Workbox
2016 The Open College of the Arts. Embroidery. (September / October 2016)
2016 (Artist Profile) Daphne's Diary. Number 8 2016. Pages 60, 61.
2016 Torn Umbrella. Press Release. Shields Gazette
2015 The Funk Files (Online interview) Mr X Stitch
2014 Bra-Vo for artist Ailish’s latest work. Shields Gazette. (11th January 2014)
2013 Artwork is stuff dreams are made of. Shields Gazette. (9th December 2013)
2012 A few of my Favourite Things. Stitch (Embroiders Guild) Issue 80
Books
2024 Narrative Textiles: Tell your story in mixed media and stitch. Batsford
2011 Unbirthday Cake. How to Be Creative in Textile Art. Batsford.
Podcasts
2024 Stitchery Stories - Ailish Henderson bringing fine art textiles to life
Filmography
2024 Narrative Textiles Workshop (Embroiderers’ Guild on demand)
2019 Artist interview. Arnolds Attic. YouTube
2016 Artist Film. Filmed by ‘We Love Media’. You Tube
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Ailish Henderson: Narrative Textiles. The Batsford Gallery, London.
2023 Maker: Mended, . The Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrogate.
2022 The Art of Embroidery. The Worshipful Broderers. Bankside, London.
2021 Surface and Depth. Collaborative with S.E.W. Palazzo Velli Expo, Rome, Italy.
2021 Showcase. OCA (online)
2019 Maker: Mended. The Spring Knitting and Stitching show 28th Feb - 3rd March
2019 Repair dress. Tyneside Women’s Voices
2018 The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair. The Biscuit Factory.
2016 Torn Umbrella. The Customs House, North East England
2013 In Dreams. The Customs House, North East England