Meet Sarah Steel

Hand & Lock Prize Winner 2024 | Textile Artist & Educator

Creativity has always been at the heart of my journey. I studied fashion, graduating in 2002, before embarking on a year of travel that broadened my perspective. Upon returning home, I knew I wanted to teach, and for the past 20 years, I’ve shared my passion for textiles and art as a college educator.

Living with Multiple Sclerosis has led me to reimagine my path with a new perspective.

This transition led me to enter the Hand & Lock Prize 2024, where I explored the profound connection between neurodiversity, mental health, and chronic illness through embroidery.

As I adjusted to life with MS, embroidery became more than just a creative outlet—it became a form of therapy and self-expression. My entry, a multifunctional wearable piece, reflects both my visible and hidden experiences, transforming challenges into a celebration of resilience, creativity, and personal growth.

Self-Expression

Embroidery Becomes a Form of Therapy!

Resilience

Celebration

Embroidery has been part of my life since childhood. I’m a proud member of Darlington Stitch and Create (formerly the Embroiderers’ Guild in Darlington) and have guided students through live work experiences with Darlington Operatic Society, where they assist in costume-making and backstage production.

Despite the uncertainty of MS, I remain determined and hopeful. I plan to continue pushing creative boundaries, blending Wilcom software with traditional textile techniques to develop surfaces for textiles, costume, and fashion.

The future may be unknown, but I’m embracing it with open hands.

Sarah Steel