Flock North is an artistic collaboration between Louise Atkinson and Hayley Mills-Styles. The project aims to explore textile heritage and migration through creative interpretations of museum collections in Yorkshire. Through researching the history of the objects and people associated with textiles in Yorkshire, we aim to highlight the rich diversity of the region through stories which stretch across the globe.
The museum objects we are interested in are specifically those with a print and textile focus, such as wallpaper and printing blocks, in addition to textile equipment and machinery. We will also collect stories relating to the migration of people and ideas and how these connect to the various collections. These may include Jewish heritage within the industry, migrant workers, international influences on patterns and technologies, or machinery exported to other countries.
Louise Atkinson is a visual artist & researcher, specialising in the relationship between art and ethnography. She uses a range of media and techniques, including artist books, drawing, textiles, & sculpture, tailoring her approach to meet the requirements of the project or artwork. Her research and practice often involves responding to ideas around people and place, creating work which represents the experiences, associations & memories of a particular area.
Through her practice-based research, she also collaborates with other artists and participants to create co-produced work as a form of socially engaged practice.
Hayley Mills-Styles is a Yorkshire artist working with embroidery. Her work has been exhibited in museums & heritage sites across the north. Using fabric & thread, she creates textile drawings and objects with an autobiographical theme. Hayley works with traditional techniques of hand embroidery, applique & patchwork, combining them with the digitally embroidered drawings. The common theme that runs throughout her work is memory; she creates stories about her life that resonate with the viewer.
Hayley has worked with community groups across Yorkshire and her recent projects have included The Seacroft Tapestry, an Arts Council funded project working alongside UK home builders Keepmoat. The project engages with Seacroft communities, helping them to create a series of embroideries as part of a large-scale installation.