ERTF WORKSHOP: 17 October 2026

Introduction

We are delighted that Anthea Godfrey has agreed to take time out of her busy schedule to give us a talk and workshop on OR NUE.  This is a traditional goldwork and coloured threads technique widely used in Heraldic and ecclesiastical designs. Anthea’s mother Margaret Nicholson was an expert in this field but with her own unique modern take. Anthea will be talking and showing her famous designs.

Anthea is retired now but in a former life she was one of the first students to gain a BA Hons under Constance Howard, Christine Risley, Eirian Short and Barbara Dawson at Goldsmiths College. She taught art, textiles and theatre design at secondary level and spent most of her career at The London College of Fashion, rising to Principal Lecturer, where she taught couture embroidery, silk screen printing, City and Guilds embroidery Part 1 and 2 and Theatre Costume.

In parallel with this she has been an AEB external examiner for ‘O’ and ‘A’ level, BTec Foundation Diploma external examiner and an external examiner for BA Hons embroidery and M.A. In the latter part of her working life she ran The International School of Creative Arts -a feeder school for The University of The Arts London. She became a member of The Embroiderers’ Guild at the age of 10 and has worked as Chairman twice over the last 30 years and is now The Artistic Director.

We will all get a chance to get started on a very small piece of work but it will be essential to bring the required ready framed calico with a small drawn and coloured design to save much time on the day. This will all be clearly set out in the requirements list.

Further information and booking

The workshop costs £50 inclusive of lunch and materials

Final date for receipt of bookings is Friday 25^th September 2026

Please book using the form which can be downloaded HERE. If Booking, please continue reading – there is preparatory work to be done before attending!

Please note the following requirements for the workshop as specified by Anthea

PLEASE PREPARE YOUR FRAME AND DESIGN PRIOR TO COMING ON THE DAY.

Or Nue is done on a square frame so that the calico is really taut. Round frames are not so good. The calico (or cotton) can be stapled, tacked or laced on all sides to the frame as taut as possible. The frame can be an old photo or empty canvas frame about 6 or 8 inches or more. Frame Size is not a problem.

DESIGN suggestions
Draw a square or oblong 2 or 3 inches maximum in any direction. Draw lines across from edge to edge in any direction. Lines can be straight or curved. The sections can then be coloured in with felt tips pens  or crayons  using solid colour in each section. Several colours will make it more interesting.

Threads
The design will be covered with gold threads and couched coloured threads. Anthea will be supplying the gold thread which has a twist which is easier to use. Members must bring coloured threads to match their design. Silk would be good but stranded cotton can be used. All threads must be the same thickness. Needles required for coloured thread plus some with a larger eye for the gold thread, plus scissors and pins.

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(Just a word of warning, Or Nue is time consuming and exacting. Your design should be full of pattern and colour. Try to avoid an item sitting in the middle of a plain background. Stitching mountains of plain background can be so boring. Medieval Or nue completely covers the ground with gold thread, pattern and colour. Nowadays we can add surface stitchery, couching, beading or found objects.)

Looking forward to meeting you all Anthea Godfrey BA Hons, A.T.D. F.R.S.A