 Liverpool Palm HouseFree motion embroidery of Liverpool Palm House |  Newcastle skylineFree motion embroidery of Newcastle skyline |  Liverpool Town HallLine drawing of Liverpool Town Hall and putting it on to calico before free motion embroidery |
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 Royal Liver building, LiverpoolFree motion embroidery of Royal Liver building, Liverpool |  Royal Liver BuildingFree motion embroidery of Royal Liver Building in Liverpool |  Edinburgh skylineFree motion embroidery of Edinburgh skyline |
 Cutting out magnets of Liverpool skylineCutting out magnets of Liverpool skyline |  Liverpool FC Anfield StadiumMy process for Liverpool stadium prints and cards |  Liverpool Philharmonic HallMy process for Liverpool Philharmonic Hall prints and cards |
 Liverpool skylineFree motion embroidery of Liverpool Skyline |  Oxford skylineFree motion embroidery of Oxford skyline |  Kingston upon HullFree motion embroidery of Kingston upon Hull |
 Creasing machineMy creasing machine for cards |  St Paul's Cathedral, LondonFree motion embroidery of St Paul's cathedral, London |  Albion house, 30 James StreetFree motion embroidery of Albion house, 30 James Street, Liverpool |
Artist Statement
My name is Tina Leahey and I am a Liverpool textile artist specialising in textile illustration line drawings of city skylines and iconic buildings.
I first began experimenting with textile illustrations several years ago. I was excited by the lack of restraints, having total control over the stitch direction, the rhythm between the needle speed and fabric motion.
The inspiration for my designs is deeply rooted in my fierce pride for the city in which I live. Liverpool has some wonderful buildings with their architectural charm, others for their historical significance, the iconic importance of museums, churches and other landmarks.
There’s one area of textile art I've really fallen in love with is textile illustrations. I was excited by the lack of restraints, having total control over the stitch direction, the rhythm between the needle speed and fabric motion using freehand machine embroidery to sketch images in thread over my illustrations of famous iconic buildings. It’s just like drawing but with a lovely textured feel.
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My “Home Is Where The Heart Is” Royal Liver Building design is my best-seller both online and at the local artisan events I attend. This was my first building commission I’d sewn over 10 years ago when my career as an artist was still in its infancy so it holds a special place in my heart.
I’m at my happiest when found at my sewing machine, working on new designs from my purpose-built studio in my Liverpool home. I love to sew complicated realistic pictures of buildings giving it added depth. I’m currently developing a range of new skylines of other cities which brings with it new levels of challenge and reward as I’m getting to know their wonderful architecture – which I'm excited to embrace.