Jacqué studied Graphic Design at Nottingham College of Art, later taking a BA in textiles in Edinburgh.  She went on to lecture degree courses in Design and Garment construction at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.  

The many aspects of Design and Textiles form the threads of her career.   As well as lecturing she designed theatre costumes, lingerie, original clothing and knitwear. She returned to photography as reference for her work and combined her skills with her knowledge of sewing and embroidery techniques, layering textiles, textures and threads with machine, hand embroidery and beading, producing her intricate pictures of coasts, trees and dales around the British Isles.

She describes her work as ‘Painting with the Sewing Machine’, Jacqué Wakely won the Tanner prize in 2009 and was elected Associate of the RBSA in 2010 Jacqué is 86 now and her amazing work has been bought to us by her daughter, Sarah Mann who describes her experience of her mother’s creative journey:

“She spent a lot of time travelling around our coasts, sketching and photographing beautiful views that caught her attention. She would then travel home full of inspiration and put her ideas into practise.

Her pieces are composed of many layers over hours, days and sometimes weeks. The pieces that she was satisfied with would go off to the framers, and she would set sail again on her travels”