Known for her large scale thread paintings, Irish textile designer Amelia Dennigan’s work will be on display at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week …
Restorative gardens are set to take centre stage at RHS Chelsea Flower Show (May 23-27) demonstrating gardening and gardens can contribute positively to health and wellbeing. As for the Show gardens, these will now be judged on how eco-friendly they are. No doubt garden designer Tom Hoblyn has borne this in mind for The Boodles Best of British Garden. Hoblyn was inspired by Pre-Raphaelite woodlands and has designed a glade-like garden, with an arbour over which grows a gorgeous double flowering rambling rose Felicite Perpetue while grasses, sedges and perennials surround a Raindance pool. This takes its name from Boodles’ iconic Raindance collection, which has been extended to include a new suite of pretty necklaces. (Lovers of the Pre-Raphaelites should make time for The Rossettis exhibition at The Tate, which runs until September 24).
Hoblyn commissioned Irish textile designer Amelia Dennigan of ACRU to create some embroidered textiles for his show garden. Known for her large scale thread paintings, Amelia uses intricate embroidery and appliqué techniques to create otherworldly and unexpected textiles, relying heavily on colour, texture and symbolism to tell imaginative stories.
Inspired by the intensity and rich detail of a Pre-Raphaelite painting, Amelia’s embroideries mimic moss and lichen found deep within a woodland setting, intricately stitched in silk and wool threads. Jewel-like reds and yellows offset muted greens and browns, to produce visually striking and engaging textiles.
“It still feels surreal to have been commissioned to contribute to this incredible space and work alongside some brilliant designers,” says Dennigan of her commission.
From a career as an economist in Dublin and London, Amelia left the world of tech after the birth of her child in 2018. Driven by a deep need to create from an early age, her relocation to New York inspired her to explore her craft with more intent. The following year, Amelia set up ACRU, which specialises in one-of-a-kind thread paintings, with sell-out annual shows and private commissions by multinational clients. Her work was recently featured at the juried showcase at Art Fair 14C and Deep Space Gallery, both in Jersey City. @acru_
