Ideas Archives – Lydia Thornley

Montage of Lydia at the Tower Gallery opening and art pieces at both exhibitions

Two pictures, two openings, two ideas

6th March, 2026 by Lydia Thornley

Three exhibitions opening on the same night – and I had work in two of them. Trainers, then, for a dash across East London… At the Brady Arts and Community Centre in Whitechapel, I have two pieces in the Women’s Spring Open: on the face of it traditional botanical sketches … Read More

The original live sketch, photographed at Cody Dock, Lydia with the canvas and a detail of the embroidery

Stretching an idea

23rd June, 2025 by Lydia Thornley

It was like playing a harp… On a big sketch on canvas, I’d decided to show the way reeds glitter in the light by way of gold embroidery. Cody Dock is a favourite spot for a screen break tea break – so, tea bags for a colour wash. I had … Read More