Lynn Setterington
I am an ethnographic embroiderer who communicates with the world through stitch. I have worked with underserved communities across the globe, including the UK, India, Bangladesh, Brazil and USA. I draw on popular culture and textile history to raise awareness of societal issues. Themes range from sustainability, place, well-being and identity and belonging
My quilts and cloths are held in many public collections including the V&A, Crafts Council, Denver Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery. Tirzah Garwood’s notion of the ‘sophisticated naive’ resonates with my approach.
Born in Yorkshire, I trained at Goldsmith’s College, London and my PhD is from UCA Farnham. I am a freelance artist and creative consultant. I left academia in 2025 after thirty years as a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.
New work
2025 was a year of exhibiting and I am back to creating new cloths.
Current work explores sustainability and wellbeing and interrogates ways to repurpose debris net, a ubiquitous material used on construction sites but rarely recycled. The recurring house image used in samplers and early quilts touches on themes of belonging, community and the term ‘unhomed’, coined by Turkish writer Ece Temelkuran.
Up and coming workshops in spring /summer 2026 are with community outreach partners at Platt Hall, Manchester, West Dean College, Sussex, University of Manchester, Architecture Dept and Preloved in South London.
Exhibitions
I exhibit nationally and internationally and am a member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists and Rogue Artists Studios, Manchester.
Touchlines with the 62 Group runs from 1st-31st May 2026 at Sunny Bank Mills, Leeds.
Commissions
Over the last decade I have devised and led several commissions and public engagement projects. These include work with archives and museums leading to site-specific artworks and large-scale initiatives involving hundreds of people.
of everyday life. Collection of the Embroideries Guild.
Work in Collections
My work is held in many major public and private collections in the UK and internationally. This includes the V&A Museum, The Crafts Council Collection, The Harris Museum, Preston, The Embroiderers Guild, The Shipley Art Gallery, The Whitworth and Denver Museum of Art.
Workshops
I design and facilitate textile workshops for community groups, libraries, festivals, schools, museums, archives and galleries. Themes include health & wellbeing, co-creation, sustainability, identity and rethinking archives. If you’re interested in discussing a workshop or potential partnership, please get in touch.
“Lynn Setterington is an extremely important artist working on the edges of politics and ethnography”
Jane Webb – Head of School for Cross Faculty Studies, Warwick University