Yorkshire-based artist, Serena Partridge, is busy creating miniscule embroideries destined to adorn the hidden nooks and crannies of the 900 year old Selby Abbey.
This is no traditional art exhibition and the intricate pieces will gradually appear in the Abbey until at least the end of the year as her work evolves.
The first piece, a little swan, is already in situ in a tiny hole.
The award-winning mixed media artist is currently the Artist in Residence for Selby Stories, which is the cultural programme for the Selby High Street Heritage Action Zone. Running until late 2023, special events will celebrate the town, its history and what makes it unique.
The HSHAZ is part of a government-funded initiative led by Historic England. It aims to breathe new life into local high streets, from regenerating historic buildings to engaging local communities through art and cultural projects.
Selby is one of more than 60 high streets in the country to receive a share of funding from Historic England, along with funding from Selby District Council.
Serena spent the Winter gaining inspiration from almost a thousand years of history, craftsmanship and stories that surround the Abbey and the generations of people who have worked, volunteered, worshipped and visited.
The tiny hand-stitched embroideries are being lodged in discreet places that visitors might not normally look, encouraging them to slow down and discover small details and stories that often go unnoticed in a building of such scale.
The work has been inspired by the Abbey’s needlepoint and cross-stitch kneelers, which have been lovingly embroidered by volunteers over many years.
Needlepoint is a new technique for Serena, who is working on a miniature scale under a magnifying lens, stitching single strand embroidery threads into fine pieces of silk gauze.
Although glorious today, the Abbey has been through difficult times in the past.
It has suffered disastrous fires, fallen into disrepair, been empty and almost derelict and used by Cromwell’s soldiers in the Civil War.
It has also been rebuilt and restored.
Serena will run a series of workshops and talks later in the year focusing on the inspiration and stories behind her miniature creations.
The Selby Stories programme is available at: https://exploreheartofyorkshire.co.uk/selbystories/