Annie Brown MSDC

Stitched & Constructed Textiles

About Annie
Based on the edge of the Cambridgeshire Fens, Annie Brown is a needle-felting artist whose work is inspired by the landscape and her appreciation of the subtle complexities of the natural world. Originally from the Kent Coast, she is particularly drawn to the waters of the Fens, reflecting her earlier life by the sea. Annie’s work is created from wool sourced from her own 250-strong flock of rare breed sheep, maintained sustainably with companion and conservation grazing.
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Biography Back to top

Originally from the Kent Coast, Annie Brown relocated in 2003 to the edge of the Cambridgeshire Fens, where the surrounding landscape and waterways have profoundly shaped her artistic vision. Her early life by the sea in Kent drew her naturally to the waters and fenlands of Fordham, Wicken Fen and Ely. She earned a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at the Kent Institute for Art and Design and later completed a Postgraduate qualification in teaching Art and Design (secondary level) at the University of Cambridge. While researching therapeutic activities for Cambridge Women’s Aid, Annie discovered needle felting and taught herself the medium, developing her own blending techniques, delicate style and a curiosity for unconventional materials.

A visit to Woolfest, a fibre festival in Cumbria, inspired her to hand-dye wool to achieve the exact colours she envisioned. Together with her partner, a stockman, she maintains a 250-strong, wool-only flock of rare breed sheep, managed as sustainably and organically as possible, using companion and conservation grazing. This enables her to control every stage of production, - from lambing, shearing, washing, dyeing and felting. Annie ensures the textures, colours and quality of the wool reflect her artistic vision.

Annie’s practice continues to evolve. She has returned to drawing to explore lines that “sing,” and experiments with using the natural colours of wool to create environmentally mindful works. She would like to explore wall hangings that drift onto the floor and installations combining intricate needle-felting, upcycled textiles, waste materials and minimal pigment.

Her work celebrates the transience and beauty of nature, offering viewers a sense of stillness, reflection and appreciation for imperfection. Regularly exhibiting since 1991, Annie has sold work internationally, appeared on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, been featured in needle-felting magazines and led workshops at national wool festivals and within her community.

Resumé Back to top

Exhibitions and Fairs

2026

  • July - Cambridge Open Studios
  • April - Eddington Arts - Eddington, Cambridge
  • February - Group show with StitchWild - Textiles East Fair - Newmarket, Suffolk

2025

  • September – Yarndale - Skipton, Yorkshire
  • August - Stitch by Stitch by Stitch Exhibition - Willow Gallery, Oswestry, Shropshire
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios
  • Eddington Arts - Eddington, Cambridge
  • April - Studio Artists - Haddenham Arts Centre - Haddenham, Ely
  • Group show with StitchWild - Textiles East Fair - St Ives, Cambridgeshire

2024

  • Histon Handmade - Histon, Cambridge
  • September - Yarndale - Skipton, Yorkshire
  • July - Ely Cathedral Geen Fair, Ely
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios
  • June – Studio Artists - Haddenham Arts Centre, Haddenham, Cambridgeshire

2023

  • Yarndale, Skipton, Yorkshire
  • A Sense of Place - Heart Gallery, Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios

2022

  • September – Yarndale - Skipton, Yorkshire
  • September - Ely Cathedral Green Fair - Ely
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios
  • May - Wool@Junction13 -Stafford

2021

  • November - Wool@Junction13 -Stafford
  • September – Yarndale - Skipton, Yorkshire
  • July - Ely Cathedral Green Fair - Ely
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios
  • Edge of the Fens Exhibition - Babylon Arts - Ely
  • June - Woolfest Online

2020

  • Autumn Seasons of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness Exhibition - St Peter Mancroft, Norwich, Norfolk.
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios

2019

  • EJaRt Creative, The Black Barn – Hasketon, Suffolk (2019-current)
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios
  • June - Woolfest - Cockermouth, Cumbria

2018

  • Textile Gallery - The Knitting and Stitching Show - Alexandra Palace, London
  • The Handmade Fair - Hampton Court Palace, London
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios
  • Woolfest- Cockermouth, Cumbria
  • Trooping the Rural Colours - The Gallery - Highwaymans, Risby, Suffolk

2017

  • Art Fusion - Babylon Arts, Ely, Cambridgeshire,
  • Artist and Designer Area - The Knitting and Stitching Show - Alexandra Palace, London
  • July - Cambridge Open Studios
  • Woolfest - Cockermouth, Cumbria (Award for Best Stand)
  • The Great British Sewing Bee - The Excel, London
  • Eastern Region Textile Forum - Textiles East - Swavesey, Cambridgeshire

2016-2017

  • Group show - Gabriel Fine Art - Canary Wharf, London
  • Market Street Brasserie - Ely, Cambridgeshire

2016

  • Parallax Art Fair - Chelsea Town Hall, London
  • The Gallery – Highwaymans, Risby, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

2013-2016

  • Cavern 4 - Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

2012

  • Royal Academy Summer Exhibition - London

2004

  • Royal Academy Summer Exhibition - London
  • Palace House - Newmarket, Suffolk

2003

  • Society of Landscape Artists - The Mall Galleries - London

2001

  • Royal Academy Summer Exhibition - London

2000

  • University Women’s Club, London (Award for Painting)
  • Open Studio - Art and Soul Festival - Dover, Deal & Sandwich

1993

  • Sandwich Library - Sandwich, Kent

1992

  • Three Women - Crabble Corn Mill -River, Dover, Kent
  • Deal Library - Deal, Kent

1991

  • Three Women - The Corner Parlour - Deal, Kent

Media

  • 2025 - August - Fen Scene
  • 2023 - Broadcast on 19th November - Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh – ITV
  • 2022 - January - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire feature
  • 2020 - Article - British Coloured Sheep Breeders’ Association (BCSBA)
  • 2019 - Article - Needle Felting Magazine
  • 2018 - Documentary feature - Cambridge TV
  • 2017 - Article – Cambridge Independent

Positions

  • 2023 - 2026 - CWRC
  • 2008 - 2026 - Workshop Practitioner
  • 2024 - Current - Director - Haddenham Arts Centre - Ely, Cambridge. A Community Interest Company (voluntary)
  • 2017- 2021 - Management Committee for Cambridge Open Studio (voluntary)
  • 2017- 2019 - Exhibition Committee for Eastern Region Textile Forum (voluntary)
  • 2009 - 2023 - Artist in Resident for Cambridge Women’s Aid (voluntary)

Education

  • Graduate Teacher Programme (Art and Design at Secondary Level) - University of Cambridge
  • BA (hons) Fine Art - Kent Institute for Art and Design, Canterbury
  • Fine Art Access - Kent Institute of Art and Design, Canterbury.
  • BTEC Diploma in Display Design - Kent Institute of Art and Design, Rochester
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