Interview with Diana Springall, textile artist

Diana Springall is amongst the most well-known of all British textile artists. Her work is found in many private and public collections, including the Embroiderers' Guild and the Victoria and Albert Museum. In a career spanning over forty years, she has devoted more than half to full-time teaching and lecturing. She was for many years a panel lecturer at the Victoria and Albert Museum, is a former chairman of both The Embroiderers' Guild and The Society of Designer Craftsmen, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She has written five books on the subject of embroidery: Canvas Embroidery (Batsford), Embroidery (for BBC ), Twelve British Embroiderers (Gakken Tokyo), Design for Embroidery (Pelham) and Inspired to Stitch -21 Textile Artists (A&C Black).

Did you undertake formal training in college or within the industry, or did you find your ways into embroidery via a different route?

The route was through Fine Art at Goldsmiths' College School of Art 1956-60 specialising in Painting.

Formal embroidery classes were undertaken in the evenings during the Painting years and again as one of the selection of pre-requisite 'craft' subjects on the Art Teachers' Certificate year. The embroidery department at the art school at Goldsmiths' College, the first to achieve validation for Embroidery at NDD level, was led by the legendary figure Constance Parker (née Howard) between 1954 and 1975.

As a child, embroidery and knitting were as familiar as writing. Born in India to a mother who was a wonderful needlewoman, and in the absence of schooling , her skills were imparted at the nursery table to be overseen by both an ayah and governess. Boarding school in England from the age of nine progressed this endeavour.

How would you describe your work and your position within the world of embroidery?

Teacher, Lecturer, Author and Practitioner (designer-maker) and a contributor - hopefully one experienced enough to be enabling and supporting others.

What type of material do you prefer to use?

All kinds of fabric and thread depending on the requirement of the work in hand. Techniques vary from various types of hand stitchery in cotton, wool or silk (particularly for group and community projects of which I have done many) to machine. Various loop pile techniques either with a Hoffman gun for carpets or a hand operated tool for smaller projects. Appliqué, patchwork and low -relief felt surfaces.

What would you like to make that you haven't so far?

I would love to run a regular centre / workshop, in my area, for young people to learn a skill that leads to the enjoyment of creating and making applied art - something they could sell - something that would give them a direction if they were not involved in sport, music and other arts - something that gives them pleasure and keeps them away from materialism and drugs.

What inspires and influences the designs you create for your work?

Undoubtedly the client in the case of commissioned work. I gain a great deal of satisfaction from work that involves problem solving in response to a brief.

For my speculative work I am motivated by colour, texture and line that I have perceived in things around me. Drawing and painting remain fundamental to my making.

See more of Diana Springall's work on the Axis website.