Ruffles is an art installation celebrating strong female figures, those who ruffled feathers to move society forward and those women who supported them to do so. It recognises the interdependent relationships of women spanning different social standings, backgrounds and cultures.

This site-responsive art installation is currently made up of 143 cushions adorned with hand-sewn ruffles in a variety of fabrics from course cotton to fine silk. These represent the interdependent relationships of women from different backgrounds who supported one another via relationships including friends, lovers, employers and employees. Ruffles looks to highlight this female power of interdependent unity through different social standings, empowerment, resilience and individual self-representation. Ruffles also has the option of having a bespoke scent created as part of the installation.

Ruffles at Hardwick Hall, The National Trust | April – Oct 2025

Part of the Material Power exhibition

Ruffles was shown at Hardwick Hall in 2025, this time celebrating Bess of Hardwick as part go their Material Power exhibition. As one of the most influential women of the Elizabethan era, her ruffling affect as a person socially and the ruffling she left in her aftermath, is quite unmatched. It is this ruffling effect that is singularly hers, that Ruffles marks.

Through the composition of the fabric ruffle many different social spheres of fabrics are brought together. Bess’s social climb and the women who supported her rise are mirrored in the fabric ruffles. The muted colour palette of the piece symbolises this often-unseen female support network, which, despite being verbally muted, can in this this case come together to create a visually powerful statement of resilience and achievement.

How this piece was made, feels very in keeping with how Bess ran her creative endeavours. In particular her building projects. As a female artist who works mainly with materials that can be brought and worked on within the home, I have become much more conscious of this aspect of my making. Much like Bess, my artistic practice involves working within the confines of domestic space and responsibilities, something that many women creators throughout history have experienced. This dynamic is often overlooked, but like Bess’s achievements, it is crucial and deserves visibility. It is a necessity and can easily be brushed over but it can be fruitful as Bess holds testimony to.

Ruffles at Knole , The National Trust | April – Oct 2024

Part of ‘Vita: Discover a story of love and life at Knole’

Ruffles was recently shown at Knole in 2024, where the piece celebrated Vita Sackville-West, who lived and loved on her own terms. Famous for her passionate love affairs with both men and women, a prolific writing career and her vision to create an incredible home and gardens at Sissinghurst, Vita and Ruffles worked perfectly. 132 cushions were used to create Ruffles here in this space. 2024 marked the 132 years since Vita was born. The piece is accompanied by a scent inspired by Vita’s gardens, incorporating rose, iris, violet and sweet pea.

Ruffles in the Orangery – 29th April – End Oct 2024 | Knole, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RP

The piece was initially shown in September 2021 at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York (and initially conceived as An agreeable space). This was where the diarist, entrepreneur and mountaineer Anne Lister married her partner Ann Walker in 1834. This was reenacted by the BBC for the first series of Gentleman Jack and in 2018 the church became the first UK site with a history plaque with a rainbow boarder sharing LGBTQ+ history.

The piece consisted of 143 white cushions adorned with hand sewn ruffles in a variety of fabrics including hard wearing cottons through to fine silks to represent a cross section of society. These fabrics, all in muted tones have been used to represent the coming together and interdependency of a cross section of women. The cushions are modest on their own though striking and full of impact when combined on mass, reiterating the celebration of women and what can be achieved together.

Each cushion contained Yorkshire lavender which fills the space with a delicate scent that lingers in the air and provides another sensory element for audiences to engage with.

Press Enquiries
For more information about the project or images and/or interested in hosting this piece, please contact – The Art Court – curator@theartcourt.co.uk

Previous exhibited
Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York – 1-18th Sept 2021, also coinciding with the nationwide Heritage Open days (10-19th September 2021)