Two new stoles have been added to the gallery.  One is a Chi-Rho design stole in the Macdonald clan tartan, which is now in Jordan.  The other is of more local interest as it was commissioned by our congregation here at St Michael's Church in Inverness as a gift for Father Nigel Zimmermann who served here as our honourary assistant curate for the last two and a half years.  He has left to concentrate on his studies in Edinburgh but it will ultimately go with him back home to Australia.

I am a textile artist specialising in embroidery inspired by Celtic and Pictish art.  I work mostly with natural fibres such as silk and wool, and in particular with Scottish fabrics such as Harris Tweed and tartans.

All my ecclesiastical work is made only to commission and each piece is individually made.   I always try to find some way of making the piece particularly relevant for the person for whom it is intended, either in the choice of fabrics or in the design itself - and if possible, both.   Most of the embroidery is created with an embroidery machine using my own designs but I also use hand embroidery where appropriate and other techniques such as hand weaving, braiding, silk painting, felt making and hand-dyeing.

Some of my work can be seen by appointment here at St Michael and All Angels Scottish Episcopal Church in Inverness. Other pieces have gone as far afield as Sweden, Canada, the USA, Australia and South Africa.

My ecclesiastical work is just a small part of what I do - to see my other work please click here www.annamacneil.co.uk