Sue Gascoyne

Sue Gascoyne is a socially-engaged artist whose current practice uses textiles, stitch, painting, mark-making, sculpture and mixed media to explore identity, agency, trauma, safety and connections.

Sue’s sensory-rich art explores what it means to be human. The hand of the maker is evident in the plethora of practices used to bring sculpture to life and sustainability is key. Sue's work has been widely exhibited throughout London and East Anglia.

Sue is passionate about making art accessible and relevant through hands-on workshops, co-creation activities and creating safe spaces for reflection and connection.

What a glorious group of people came together for close looking, conversations & reflection at my PV this week. Thanks for everyone who made it & all those who messaged, it was such a special afternoon. Accumulations is showing until 28th April & is getting lots of love. 9 sculptures take a playful look at waste, revealing their treasure.

Ceramics, glass, metal, textiles, paper, orange peel, living plants, plastics, leather boots, perished hot water bottles & odd glove
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@culturessex @essexsu @uniessex @essexcdp @essex_cc @artistsofessex_gallery @essexlibrary #waste #contemporarysculpture #sustainableart #livingsculptures @visitcolchester @loubuck01 @theminories @firstsitecolchester @colchester_art_society @womeninartprize__ @womensart1 @womeninartsnetwork

Come join me in Colchester library for this free textile making session & leave feeling relaxed & nourished by art & good company.

@community.360org @firstsitecolchester @theminories @textilecollectiveuk @colchesterleaf @culturessex @essex_cc #freeart #artworkshops #textileart #wildweaving #mentalhealth

It’s Firstsite’s fab Art Fair today! Lots of talented artist’s & activities @firstsitecolchester Do come & say hi & check out my unique artcycled ties. Excited that the lovely Sally bought my first vagina tie! Amazing work by @nver_2_late & @esutton.artist

@firstsitecolchester @visitcolchester #artfairs @creativecolchester @37queenst @theminories @loubuck01 #ties @nver_2_late @esutton.artist @sallylangley60

Shattered is one of 9 sculptures currently on show at The Reading Room Gallery as part of Accumulations - a personal reflection on waste.

Thanks so much to everyone who came & messaged about my PV, you all made it so special.

Shattered features a vintage broken tea cup, Limoges broken saucer, yarn, thread, teaspoon, handmade ‘rug’ & flytipped chair

Thanks @gascoyne.f_ for the loan of the chair & @patchcolchester for storing my ice

Accumulations is on until 29th April, Colchester Library, Trinity Square. DM for guided talks, would be great to welcome schools & groups

@essex_cc @patchcolchester @colchester_art_society @theminories @firstsitecolchester @colchesterleaf @textilecollectiveuk @culturessex @esutton.artist @clare_dixey_art @nekorose.embroidery @nver_2_late @bethholmesstudio @steffiestinypottery @blackwatertextileart @tollesburystitchercreator2024 @groundwork @artistsofessex_gallery @artlici4_xoxo #waste #contemporarysculpture #zerowaste #sustainableart

Made from slumped scrap glass & contact lenses, Shortsighted - 1 of 9 sculptures in my latest exhibition Accumulations, puts a focus on micro plastics & packaging. Featuring out of date contact lenses - a costly error in lockdown, I’m so pleased to see something good come of this unintended waste. It also really highlights the amount of packaging & waste involved in medicines & products like these.

Scrap slumped glass, out of date contact lenses, frame, material, fake mirrored glass

Thanks so much @julielintonglass & @gascoyne.f_ for your support with realising my vision

@groundworkgallery @theminories @colchester_art_society @colchesterleaf @firstsitecolchester @wellcomecollection @culturessex @essexwildlifetrust @essex_cc @bbcessex @essexlibraryct #waste #microplastics #sustainableart #contemporarysculptures @sciencemuseum @loubuck01 @thedailygazettecolchester @freelandsfoundation @visitcolchester

Showing @In Our Time is like being enveloped in a warm hug. So many lovely talented artists. Thanks to the brilliant volunteer curators @wendydawsonart @wendybaileypr @hill.hila & @hilde_pollet for their work in this exhibition. Thanks also to @wendydawsonart for this photo of me!!

Resilience is stitched from recycled hand-dyed calico, upholstery fabric, thread & yarn. Please come & take a seat while you ponder the enormity of what’s happening in our time.
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@gascoyne.f_ @julielintonglass @natguinamard @tina.bullen @drabbiecairns @karenhall_art @wendydawsonart @nver_2_late @theminories @sarahmilne11

Unravelled features a holey odd glove sat within my aunt’s old sewing cupboard. Embellished with textiles & ceramics spouting from the holes, this reminds us of the antithesis to fast fashion.

Accumulations is showing at The Reading Room Gallery throughout April. John me for a mash up PV/behind the scenes mini tour next Wednesday 15th, 4.30-6.30.
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@essexlibraries @creativecolchester @textilecollectiveuk @eafestivaluk @colchesterleaf @37queenst @space_colchester_ @colchester_art_society @loubuck01 @firstsitecolchester @firstsiteyak @theminories #contemporarysculpture #waste #womanartist @easttextile

Peeled - a fruit bowl sculpted from tangerine peel, explores the irony of food waste in a world where many go hungry every day. 1 of 9 sculptures in Accumulations exhibition now showing in The Reading Gallery, Colchester library, I’ve been blown away by the positive comments, reflections & people’s sharing of their own waste stories & confessions.

There’s still time to see Accumulations, showing until the end of April.

Made from stitched together tangerine peel, vintage table, cookery books, dried peel & 2 dried lemons - leftover from Christmas.

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#essexlibraries @colchesterleaf @enformcolchester @easttextile @37queenst @creativecolchester @loubuck01 @textilecollectiveuk @visitcolchester @theminories @firstsitecolchester @gallery46whitechapel #waste#contemporyart #contemporarysculpture #sustainableart

Recycling my son’s A level notes sparked the seed of an idea for this piece. Pulling the metal spiral spine from the pages of the notepad created an interesting sculptural form, with distorted ‘talons’ clues to its previous incarnation. The organic form of some perished oasis wire helped cement Unruly - 1 of 9 sculptures making up Accumulations.

Having woven and shaped the sculpture, I was still grappling with how best to display it in the absence of exhibition plinths. I’ve had to be creative in this install and so have used library books to raise the height of domestic furniture. But that didn’t feel right for this. Coming home on Day 2 of the install I spotted this small rusty radiator outside my neighbours house! I love these moments of serendipity! The discovery of the squashed can outside Dr Chippy was the final piece in the jigsaw!

Shaped metal spiral spine, perished floristry wire, hand knotted wire tube, scrap radiator and mesh, squashed aluminium can, large books, floristry wire connectors & kitchen towel
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@essex_cc @colchestercitycouncil @colchesterleaf @enformcolchester @loubuck01 #accumulations @lynn_foster @essex_women_create @bbcessex #artexhibition @visitcolchester #metal #recycling #waste

Smothered - a soft sculpture highlighting toy waste is getting a lot of love at my latest exhibition Accumulations. So many thought-provoking discussions about our environmental footprints. Thanks so much @nver_2_late for your generous words & video. Watch this space for free environment- themed events coming soon to Colchester library.

Mouldy pre-loved cuddly toys, thread, yarn & toy pram
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@culturessex @othona_community_essex @theminories @theotherma @37queenst @colchester_art_society @colchesterleaf @lynn_foster @nver_2_late @colchestercitycouncil @essex_cc @loubuck01 @textilecollectiveuk @thedailygazettecolchester @whitechapelgallery #contemporarysculpture #ecoart #enviroment #womanartist #sustainability @blandinem_art

Accumulations is made up of 9 sculptures, each featuring a different type of waste, from cuddly toys to metal, junk mail to textiles & fast fashion, micro plastics to ceramics & food waste to water. The pieces playfully explore my relationship to waste illuminating some stark facts in the process.

These photos feature Outburst, a piece centering on 2 perished hot water bottles bought to life by slumped scrap glass.

It was great to have so many animated conversations about waste and art today. I’ll never look at beetroot the same way!!! :)

Accumulations is on show at The Reading Room Gallery, Colchester Library until the end of April.
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Perished hot waterbottles, slumped scrap glass, wire, museum wax, shower hook

@culturessex @lynn_foster @essexlibrary @theminories @loubuck01 @visualartopen @wendydawsonart @drabbiecairns @firstsitecolchester

Have been taking it slow installing Accumulations, getting to know the fab space & staff, as well as talking to lots of visitors. I’m pleased to say that the exhibition is now ready! Can’t wait to hear your stories of waste.

Accumulations is on until 29th April at Colchester Libraries wonderful new The Reading Room Gallery. Details of free textile making sessions coming soon. If you’re in Colchester please do pop along to say hi.

Downtrodden (It will cost you £45 for a new zip & no guarantee it will last!) consists of 3 pairs of boots, each with a broken zip, planted with Moss, spider plants, cress & rocket in a bin bag. With the boots currently unusable outdoors, I was reflecting on obsolescence, & decided to bring the outdoors in!
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@culturessex @essexlibraries @space_colchester_ @colchester_art_society @theminories @37queenst @julielintonglass (thanks for support with glass making) gascoyne.f_ (thanks for fab poster) @loubuck01 #contemporarysculptures #waste #zerowaste #artexhibition @visitcolchester @firstsitecolchester

After hours of creating 9 new sculptures, I’m so excited to be sharing my latest work at the wonderful Reading Room Gallery, Colchester Library. Install is tomorrow with some creative solutions for plinths!

You can expect to see glass, ceramic, mixed media, paper, wire, textile and living sculptures in this personal response to waste. Thanks so much to Sarah Steel, super talented @gascoyne.f_ for the fab flier and @julielintonglass for supporting my first foray into working with glass - it’s been a joy.

Dates for PV & waste conversations coming soon.

Accumulations runs from 1st to 29th April so looking forward to catching up, meeting new people & having some interesting conversations
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@essexlibraries @gascoyne.f_ @julielintonglass @37queenst @creativecolchester @theminories @colchester_art_society @colchmkrspc @textilecollectiveuk #contemporarysculpture #sustainability #zerowasteart #waste #emergingartist @tina.bullen @soniainateacup @blackwatertextileart @francesbcreative @franontheedge @lynn_foster @visual_art_by_rose @drabbiecairns @jackbriggsmiller @jennybutcherart @beverley_youngman

So pleased to have finished this final piece ready for install next week. I’ve loved the challenge of working with new & more familiar materials, from ceramic to glass, paper to mixed media, wire to textiles. Accumulations opens @The Reading Room Gallery, Colchester Library on 1st April. It’s there for the month, so if you do have time to visit I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Thanks to Julie Linton & all the amazing artists @ Colchester Makerspace for their help.

@essexlibraries @visitcolchester @julielintonglass @37queenst @creativecolchester @colchmkrspc #contemporarysculpture #glasssculpture #ceramicsculpture #textileart #waste @recycling @essexwastemanagement

What a fab day of fun & making @Sapphire Jubilee Community Centre today. Thanks Christine @Haveringchanging, @jayneyherbert & all the wonderful people, performers & artists that created such a buzz

@haveringchanging @jayneyherbert @createyourselfcalm @haveringlondon

Last night saw me sharing lessons learnt from exhibiting across London & the region alongside The Minories Director Emma Howe. Being clear, flexible & paying attention to the details were emerging themes. Seeing our framing and display choices as integral parts of our art was another key theme. It was great to hear Emma’s & others experiences.

Thanks for the opportunity @emmahowe88 & thanks for the photos @julielintonglass
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@theminories @emmahowe88 @julielintonglass @colchester_art_society @beecroftartgallery @art.firepit @visualartopen @cuckoofarmstudios #curation #artexhibitions

I’ve been experimenting with slumping scrap glass with the super talented @julielintonglass We’re enjoying creating & responding to each other & embracing all the exciting ideas that are fizzing as a result of our conversations in glass & combining with other materials. Here’s a sneak peek at a WIP. Am excited to see where this play takes us. Thanks so much Julie 🙏 Thanks also @gascoyne.f_ for your inciteful ideas
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@julielintonglass @gascoyne.f_ #glassslumping #glasssculpture #contemporarysculpture #sustainableart #play

Experiment with stitched together fabric scraps left in a jar of rusty nail water. The suprise of unearthing this and gently unravelling the fragile piece felt like I was excavating a relic. With a Roman inspired exhibition planned with the magnificently talented @blackwatertextileart next year, I feel like this is highlighting a possible path to me creating authentically aged materials. Watch this space!
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@blackwatertextileart @theminories @tollesburystitchercreator2024 @visual_art_by_rose @francesbcreative #romanhistory #textilesculpture #materialexperiments

Excited & honoured that my piece Catch of the Day has been selected to be in Colchester Art Society’s CAS at 80 celebratory exhibition at The Beecroft Art Gallery in Southend. Opening next weekend on 7th March & running until 17th May, I hope to bump into some of you lovely people when I visit.

Made from waste plastic fruit & vegetable net bag packaging, Catch of the Day is a playful reminder of what micro plastics are doing to the environment and our bodies.

@colchester_art_society @beecroftartgallery #microplastics #zerowaste #contemporarysculpture #sustainableart @tina.bullen @drabbiecairns

I’m excited to bring these beauties, & many more unique handmade ties - or should I say wearable artworks, to Firstsite’s fab Art Fair this Saturday. Join me & the other talented artists for a natter & a browse & go home with something special for you or a loved one.

All my UNLEASHED ties are made from pre-loved materials meaning looking & feeling good is easy. Commissions also available if you’re looking for some bespoke wearable art.

Upcycled ties, recycled materials, zips, beads, thread & yarn.

Why not make a day of it with a fab workshop or artist mentoring session @firstsitecolchester if you’ve got an idea to explore… dud I mention the yummy cake?!
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@firstsitecolchester @37queenst @visitcolchester @creativecolchester #wearableart #artoninstagram #zerowaste #unleashed #ties @tina.bullen @nver_2_late

It’s wonderful moments of quiet absorption, flow & connection like these, so good for our sense of wellbeing, which make running workshops such a privilege & responsibility.

Participants discovered wild weaving, unweaving & macrame in this hands-on session.

If you live near Hale End Library why not join me for the next 2 free sessions in March & April? Displaying art is an integral part of the library’s approach so I can’t wait to see the fruits of these sessions on display.
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#artworkshops #artinlibraries @walthamforestlibraries #wellbeing #communityart #textileart

I’m excited to be @Hale End library for the first of 3 adult making sessions. It’s a joy to be in such a welcoming space with art & sculptures giving it such a homely feel. Thanks Mehrzad & Huy for your great support.
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#artworkshops #wildweaving #macrame #communityart #wellbeing

Loved seeing Held being enjoyed at last week’s Sip & Paint session @art.firepit gallery. There’s still time to catch the wonderful F Word show - on until 4th February. Fab feisty work. @jasminehonormercer @soniawhiteart @natguinamard & many more. Thanks so much @amyroseedlyn Anne Marie & Marcus for their amazing curation.

Recycled textiles & mixed media work

@art.firepit #womensart #femininepower #textilesculptures #figürativeart

‘for all the people that ATE for me’ is showing for 10 more days @patchcolchester That’s 10 more days to enjoy something yummy to eat in the gorgeous cafe with this striking sustainable installation as a backdrop. Thanks so much for all the comments & love the piece has received. Here’s what people have been saying….

Stitched together fruit & veg net bags, macrame & onions

@patchcolchester @patch_events @theotherma @37queenst #textileart #contemporarysculpture #sustainableart #womenartist #emergingartist

Yesterday’s Weaving & Un-Weaving workshop @patchcolchester was such a joy to run. Lovely people talking & creating together in the wonderful Patch Gallery Atrium. More workshops coming soon.
Thanks for the photos Sue H x
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@patchcolchester @visitcolchester @37queenst #weaving #artworkshops #sustainableart #emergingartist #textileart

Thanks to everyone who helped create & celebrate my first solo exhibition ‘for all the people that ATE for me’. It was a lovely evening of interest, connections & laughter on a rainy cold night. Thanks again to the magnificent @patchcolchester team for helping set up & clear away. It was interesting to see the installation in muted light with shadows, a contrast to its sparkle & bright pop of colour during the day. A very special night to remember.

Made from recycled fruit & vegetable net bags, waste construction netting, macrame, thread & onions. The exhibition continues until the end of January Monday to Saturday 10-4pm.

Thanks to Dan, Clare, Sue H & Freya for the photos.
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@patchcolchester @theotherma @visitcolchester @37queenst #contemporarysculpture #textileart #fibreart #sustainability #softsculpture

‘for all the people that ATE for me’ is a homage to community, sustainability & resourcefulness. Thanks so much to everyone who helped bring this piece to fruition.

Fruit & veg net bags, macrame yarn, cotton thread & onions.

@patch_events @patchcolchester @visitcolchester @37queenst @impact4signs @tesco #contemporarysculpture #textilesculpture #sustainableart #emergingartist #artoninstagram

for all the people that ATE for me is now open!! Come to Patch Atrium in Colchester for a feast of the senses. A huge thanks to all the people who collected fruit & veg net bags & the wonderful team at Patch for making it a dreamy install.

With fab exhibitions at The Minories & Firstsite, it’s the perfect arty day out!

Exhibition runs until the end of January with a weaving/unweaving workshop on 17th January. Tix £8 DM to book.

Plastic fruit & veg netting, macrame yarn, cotton thread, construction netting, onions.

@patchcolchester @visitcolchester @theminories @firstsitecolchester @37queenst @theotherma @studio459tomar #contemporarysculpture #sustainableart #emergingartist #soloexhibition #textileart

Day 1 of install @patchcolchester! Been playing with hanging from fixings & enjoyed a delicious lemony treacle tart while sitting & reflecting on how to lay out the install. Delicious!! Looking forward to seeing some familiar & new faces at Saturday’s opening.

For all the people that ATE for me has been made from recycled fruit & veg net bags, thread, macrame yarn & recycled construction netting.
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@patchcolchester @theotherma @37queenst #emergingartist #textilesculpture #sustainableart #artinstallation #softsculpture

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@sue.gascoyne

Portfolio of Exhibited Work

Coming to art after a life-changing accident in 2023, I enjoy exploring different media - whether repurposed textiles and stitch; stale coffee, ink and paper; natural stone pigments; or waste materials, from a dumped bike saddle to fruit and vegetable net packaging! Welcome to my portfolio of projects and experimental art. In 2025 my work was exhibited in 10 exhibitions in London and East Anglia. Here you’ll find a selection of my exhibited work and projects.

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Sue Gascoyne

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Portfolio of Exhibited Work

Sue Gascoyne Art