Tutors

Jenny Adin-Christie came to the Royal School of Needlework from Derbyshire in 1997. On completing her Apprenticeship she became a full-time member of the Studio and teaching staff at the RSN. She specialises in stumpwork and fine whitework and the conservation of christening robes, wedding veils and similar items.  Jenny now works in the Studio as well as continuing her teaching commitments.
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Jessica Aldred joined the Royal School of Needlework in 2001 and completed her Apprenticeship in 2004. During this time she developed a love of theatrical costume and now works full time in the costume production department at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She returns to the Royal School of Needlework regularly to teach weekend workshops.
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Kelley Aldridge graduated from the RSN in 2005, and since then has been growing a successful freelance career in teaching, kits, private commissions and textile restoration projects mainly in the Bristol area. Her work is in private collections in the UK, Canada and the US, and you can visit her at her studio (by appointment) or on her website, www.kelleyaldridge.com
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Lisa Bilby came to the Royal School of Needlework as an Apprentice in 2001. Before this she had completed a degree in costume design and production at Bournemouth. Since completing her Apprenticeship Lisa works as a freelance embroiderer and teacher. Teaching predominately in the South West of England as well as the RSN, she also undertakes a variety of commissions both for the RSN and private clients.
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Anne Butcher completed her Apprenticeship in 1984 and continued as a member of the Studio and teaching staff while gaining further creative embroidery and art qualifications. She was Head of Studio from 1989 to 1997 when she left to raise her family.  She now works as a freelance teacher and embroiderer.
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Florence Collingwood trained at the Guild of Handicrafts studying silversmithing before joining the RSN’s Apprenticeship. Following three years as a full time member of the Studio and teaching staff, and having completing a two year PGCE teaching course, Flo is now a freelance embroiderer. She teaches privately and at the RSN and works on private commissions.  Flo especially enjoys working on quilts and ecclesiastical work, combining different traditional techniques with contemporary ideas.
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Shelley Cox is a qualified librarian from New Zealand.  After travelling extensively she decided on a change of career and joined the RSN’s Apprenticeship scheme.  Up until 2001 Shelley worked for several years as a teacher and Studio embroiderer at the RSN. Based near Hastings she now teaches freelance and undertakes embroidery commissions.

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Owen Davies, currently Head of Education, graduated from the RSN Apprenticeship in 1994 and then worked for a further two years teaching and in the RSN Studio. On leaving the RSN he began a freelance career as a textile artist teaching for the Embroiderers’ Guild and regional groups and became the Needlework Consultant for the John Lewis Partnership. He has always had a passion for gardening and created the Embroidered Knot Gardens course teaching needlework to like minded enthusiasts. Owen has co-written with Gill Holdsworth (Head of Student Education) the best selling book “Embroidered Knot Gardens” book published by Anova in 2006. He continues to promote the book through a series of workshops and lectures around the country.

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Elizabeth Elvin has enjoyed a long and varied career teaching hand embroidery.  Starting in 1964 at the RSN evening classes at Princes Gate, she specialised in Goldwork and Silkwork.  Part-time teaching continued with work for the Inner London Council and then Church Work for the Royal School of Church Music for a number of years.  She also taught Church Work with Beryl Dean.  From 1982 until 1987, when the RSN moved to Hampton Court Palace, she taught Goldwork on the Apprenticeship. Other teaching commitments have been throughout the UK with the RSN and for the Embroiderer’s Guild, in Canada alongside Constance Howard and in Australia and the USA. Having taken early retirement from the RSN in 2007 Liz now spends her time lecturing and teaching embroidery.
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Tracy A Franklin is a freelance specialist embroiderer working in her studio in Fowlers Yard, in Durham City where she teaches, works on commissions and exhibits.  Tracy originally trained at the Royal School of Needlework in 1991, then continued to work at the RSN for a further seven years as a teacher and in the Studio before becoming Apprentice Co-ordinator in 1997.  Since leaving the RSN in 2001, Tracy has published two books, “New Ideas in Goldwork” and most recently “Contemporary Whitework” which she co-authored with Nicola Jarvis.
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Heather Harrison trained at a fashion house in North Yorkshire making ball gowns and wedding dresses before becoming an Apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework in 1999.  Heather is currently a member of the Studio and teaching staff and combines her fashion training with her enthusiasm for embroidery.
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Sarah Homfray completed the Royal School of Needlework Apprenticeship in 2006. She currently teaches the one year Certificated Course, Day Classes and undertakes freelance work.  Inspired by her travels, Sarah is especially interested in complementing traditional English embroidery with influences from other cultures.
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Nicola Jarvis completed her Apprenticeship in 1994 and worked in the RSN Studio as a technician, designer and tutor for a further year.   She then pursued a freelance career, working mainly as a sample embroiderer for the UK fashion industry and during this time gained her Certificate of Education from Greenwich University.  In 2005 she co-authored Contemporary Whitework” with Tracy A Franklin. Nicola has recently gained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Manchester Metropolitan University and now teaches art and embroidery at the RSN.  She is currently studying part-time for a Masters Degree in Fine Art.
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Ann Keay has worked as a teacher of art and textiles for many years in all areas of the education sector.  She currently teaches the art and design to RSN students and is also a City & Guilds Verifier for Design and Craft courses.  She has exhibited contemporary art quilts in the UK and abroad.
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Amber Khokhar is a painter and a ceramicist with an MA in Traditional Art from the Prince’s School of Tradtional Art and a degree in Graphic Design from Central Saint Martin’s School of Art & Design.  She has exhibited ceramics, drawings and paintings throughout the UK, in the United States, Egypt and Saudi Arabia and teaches art workshops in museums and schools.
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Jacqui MacDonald comes from a background in Conservation and Restoration, and spent seven years with the National Trust. Having been inspired by the textiles in her care, she joined the RSN’s Apprenticeship.  Since leaving the RSN Jacqui has been busy working freelance from her studio in Hampshire, taking on small textile restoration projects and new commissions, as well as teaching around the country.
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Kate Sinton completed her three year Apprenticeship in 2002 and now pursues a career as an embroidery artist and teacher.  Her work concentrates on using plant forms and pattern as imagery.  Currently Kate is also working on a project at St. Paul's Cathedral in making new vestments.
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Jennifer Spindler has had a passionate interest in embroidery since an early age thanks to the encouragement of her grandmother. On completing her Apprenticeship in 2007 Jennifer returned to her home town of Woodbridge in Suffolk from where she pursues a career as a freelance embroiderer, focusing on the traditional aspects of hand embroidery; taking commissions and teaching to pass on the skills of traditional hand embroidery.
She also teaches on the Certificated Course.