Nigel Cheney: Decorated

Decorated is an ongoing research project that explores the relationships between commemoration and memory through textiles. This new body of work is inspired by Cheney’s family origin at Naesby, Northamptonshire and their connection with the war memorial in the village.

Naesby’s copy of the Menin Gate Lion bears the name of 11 servicemen who didn’t survive the war and one of Cheney’s uncles devoted many years of his life to researching them. Decorated tells the story of these men and brings them to life in the gallery.

Cheney exploits both hand craft, hand operated and computer aided manufacture in textiles; complex grounds are built from layers of scans of hand drawn images, photography, digital manipulations, pattern and the contrasts of stitch qualities.