Jude Moon Castle
Jude is an artistic embroiderer with a passion for portraiture and textile art.
She initially studied Creative Embroidery in the 1970s whilst training to be a primary/middle school teacher. During her time at college, she shunned the fashion for creating abstract works inspired by nature and instead pressed her sceptical tutors to let her create portraits, happily with great success. Then on graduating, that was it, as she stepped away from her art to concentrate on her family, sporting pursuits and career.
Eventually in 2015 and now semi-retired, Jude rekindled her interest in creative embroidery, initially stitching animals – including pets of friends and family. However, she was soon back creating portraits and steadily developing her own signature, illustrative style which slowly gained interest from others, along with recognition.
Most of her work today is created by covering the whole surface with just freehand machine embroidery. The result gives the impression that the artwork has been painted or created using pastels, so she particularly enjoys seeing people’s reactions when they are told that her artworks are in fact, entirely stitched.
In 2023 at her first attempt, one of Jude’s embroidered portraits, ‘Al’s Best Mate, Mike’ was accepted for the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. The following year in 2024, she was joint winner of the Embroiderers Guild Members’ Challenge with her submission of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. She has also undertaken commissions and had articles about her in various local publications.
Whilst much of her work is machine embroidery, she does enjoy hand stitching, attempting to create the same illusion with minute, detailed stitches.
Offers: Workshops, Mini workshops, Presentations/Talks, Online presentations, Holidays, Festivals
Media: Textiles (mainly freehand machine embroidery but sometimes hand sewing)
Subjects: Mainly portraits and nudes, but also animals and plants.
Will travel to: Jude is willing to travel to groups up to an hour from her home in South Buckinghamshire. Also Cardiff and Caerphilly area.
Email: judemoon500@gmail.com
Phone: 07483 885176
