Lucy Martin
Head of Education
Instagram: @lucymartinembroidery
Website: www.lucymartinembroidery.com
Email: lucymartin@handembroidery.com
Lucy grew up in the idyllic countryside of the Peak District, where her passion for stitching began at an early age. She started by helping her mum make wedding dresses when she was just three years old. Over the years, her talent and dedication have led her to work on pieces for prestigious clients and companies such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry, and Catherine Walker, among others. A passionate advocate and ambassador for hand embroidery, Lucy is classically trained, holding a first-class honours degree in the craft. In 2022, she joined Hand & Lock as the Head of Education.
Since joining Hand & Lock, Lucy has transformed the school into an internationally recognized centre for contemporary embroidery, fostering a growing community of students. As the Head of Education, her role involves creating a dynamic educational programme tailored to everyone, from beginners to experts. Her daily work includes research, design, implementation, and teaching. Well-organised, flexible, and highly trained in embroidery techniques, Lucy enjoys ensuring that the designs students work on challenge their abilities and reflect couture standards.
In addition to growing the embroidery school, Lucy curates a wide range of diverse and exciting classes with guest tutors from around the world. She also collaborates with prestigious venues, including The National Portrait Gallery, the Natural History Museum, and Kew Gardens, to run private and external courses. Lucy's passion for embroidery extends beyond the classroom as she leads embroidery retreats around the world. For her, the opportunity to share her love for embroidery is part of a broader mission to preserve and maintain the craft for future generations.
Lucy is now embracing an exciting new challenge as she is teaching the prestigious Hand & Lock Diploma in Contemporary Embroidery. This comprehensive program is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of modern embroidery techniques, blending traditional craftsmanship with innovative design. Lucy's extensive experience and passion for the craft make her the ideal guide for students pursuing this rigorous diploma. Her goal is to ensure that each student not only masters the technical skills but also develops their unique artistic voice, further contributing to the evolution of contemporary embroidery.