Royal Park Life

These works combine tonal pencil drawing with hand embroidery to explore the wildlife and character of London’s Royal Parks.

Each piece begins with observation, captured through photography and drawing. From these studies, tonal illustrations are developed and then printed onto cotton or silk fabric, where they are further worked into with hand embroidery.

Thread is used as a drawing tool, adding colour, texture, and detail to the original image. By layering stitch over drawn forms, the works build depth and subtle variation, bringing the subjects to life through a combination of processes.

Each piece takes many hours to complete and is entirely made by hand.

Greenwich Rabbit & Mouse, full artwork view. A large rabbit dominates the left of the composition, its fur densely stitched in layered amber, grey, brown and cream threads, one ear raised and alert. To the right, a much smaller field mouse looks up toward the rabbit, stitched in warm brown with a pink tail. The scale difference and eye contact between the two animals gives the work an engaging narrative quality. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Greenwich Rabbit & Mouse showing the embroidery of the rabbit's head. Individual stitches in grey, amber, brown, dark chocolate and cream follow the direction of the fur with extraordinary precision. The eye is worked in warm amber-brown with a dark pupil, the ear in soft pink and grey, and fine individual whiskers extend from the muzzle in thread.
Bushy Woodpeckers, full artwork view. The tonal pencil-drawn bark fills the composition in pale graphite, with two green woodpeckers hand embroidered in striking contrast. The adult bird on the right is stitched in olive green, white and vivid crimson with a blue-grey beak, while the juvenile above is smaller, its red crown more muted and plumage more speckled. The embroidered talons grip the pencil-drawn bark with remarkable precision. Close-up detail of Bushy Woodpeckers showing both birds' heads and the bark texture. The adult's crimson crown is densely stitched in deep red thread, its eye ring in black and white, beak in blue-grey. The juvenile above has a smaller red cap, grey-brown speckled face and alert expression, each feather individually worked. The pencil-drawn bark grain surrounds both birds in fine graphite detail.
Richmond Mandarin Duck with Fish, full artwork view. The mandarin duck is depicted mid-stride on a pale pencil-drawn ground, every feather group individually stitched — the spectacular orange fan crest, deep purple and black breast, teal and blue wing feathers, golden scalloped body and vivid orange legs. A small white fish with an orange-red eye lies beside the bird's feet, adding quiet narrative to the composition. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Richmond Mandarin Duck with Fish showing the embroidery of the head and breast. The spectacular fan crest is stitched in long radiating threads of burnt orange, amber and deep red, above a crown of cobalt blue, teal and burgundy. The breast is worked in deep purple and black with bold white stripes, and the small red bill precisely stitched. Individual stitches follow the direction of each feather group with exceptional precision.
Regent Hedgehog, full artwork view, unframed. The hedgehog fills the composition, its spines densely stitched in amber, cream, silver-grey and black threads with a warm golden-brown face. The combination of matt, silky and metallic threads gives the spines remarkable depth and texture. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Regent Hedgehog showing the hand embroidery. Individual stitches in amber, gold, cream and black thread radiate outward across the spines, with metallic threads catching the light. The face is worked in warm golden brown with a dark embroidered nose and bright eyes, the fine stitching around the muzzle capturing the soft fur beneath the spines.
Greenwich Owl, full artwork view. The tawny owl is depicted facing forward on a graphite-drawn post, filling the composition with extraordinary feather detail. The rounded facial disc is worked in cream and warm gold, the dark eyes precisely stitched, with layered brown, russet, amber and white threads building the richly textured plumage. Seed beads and sequins are scattered throughout the breast feathers, catching the light. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Greenwich Owl showing the embroidery of the face and breast. The facial disc is stitched in soft cream, grey and warm gold radiating outward from the large dark eyes, each worked in deep charcoal thread. The beak is pale grey-green. Below, the breast feathers are built up in amber, brown, russet and cream thread with small gold sequins and seed beads scattered throughout, adding luminosity and depth to the layered plumage.
St James Flying Parakeet, full artwork view. The parakeet is depicted mid-flight, wings raised, its body stitched in vivid lime and yellow-green with a pale blue-green head, red beak and black collar. The upper wing feathers are worked in layered slate grey and charcoal with white feather markings, the inner wing in bright yellow-green. The long teal-green tail trails behind, with pencil-drawn talons visible below the body. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of St James Flying Parakeet showing the wing, body and head embroidery. The inner wing is densely stitched in vivid lime and yellow-green threads with individual feathers clearly defined, transitioning to slate grey and charcoal outer feathers with white highlights along each quill. The pale blue-green head is worked in fine thread, the red beak precisely stitched with a black line marking the collar beneath.
Hyde Bunny, full artwork view, unframed. The rabbit is depicted in three-quarter profile, its coat densely stitched in layered warm browns, amber and soft grey-white, with the ear interior worked in delicate pink and grey. The dark eye and grey muzzle are precisely embroidered, with fine whiskers extending from the face. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Hyde Bunny showing the hand embroidery of the head and body. Individual stitches in warm brown, amber, grey and cream thread follow the direction of the fur with exceptional delicacy. The ear is worked in soft pink, grey and gold, the eye precisely stitched in deep charcoal, and the muzzle in cool grey-white — capturing the quiet alertness of the original animal.
St James Quirky Bird, full artwork view. The jackdaw is depicted with a rounded, characterful form. The head and neck are stitched in soft silver-grey and black thread, the distinctive white eye clearly visible. The body is built up in layers of black seed beads, bugle beads and black sequins interspersed with larger pale sequins, with iridescent purple and teal thread visible at the wing edges. Pencil-drawn legs and feet complete the composition. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of St James Quirky Bird showing the head and beaded body. The grey crown and neck are stitched in fine silver and grey thread with hints of purple iridescence. Below, rows of black bugle and seed beads cover the upper breast, transitioning to densely layered black and pale silver sequins on the lower body — the different textures and surfaces catching light from multiple angles, giving the plumage a rich, jewelled quality.
Richmond Mandarin Duck, full artwork view. The mandarin duck crouches in profile, every feather group individually stitched with exceptional precision. The crimson and navy crown, white cheek, iridescent green and teal neck, long golden amber whisker feathers and dark grey breast are all clearly defined, with teal sequins embellishing the wing. The pale scalloped underbody is worked in fine grey and gold thread, with vivid amber orange legs below. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Richmond Mandarin Duck showing the head, whisker feathers and body embroidery. The crown is stitched in deep crimson and navy, the white cheek in smooth satin thread, and the iridescent green neck in teal and emerald. Long golden amber whisker feathers radiate outward in fine individual stitches, and the pale grey underbody is worked in delicate circular stitching with tiny orange thread details throughout.
St James Pelican, full artwork view. The pelican is depicted standing, its voluminous body densely stitched in soft pink, warm grey, cream, gold and red threads that together suggest the subtle blush of the breeding plumage. The long beak is worked in yellow, slate blue and crimson, with a fine wispy crest at the crown. The webbed feet are stitched in pink and grey below. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of St James Pelican showing the head, beak and upper body embroidery. The crown and crest are stitched in cream and pale gold with individual wispy threads extending outward. The face is worked in soft pink and warm amber around the dark eye, the long beak in layered yellow, blue-grey and red. The body feathers below are built from thousands of fine stitches in pink, grey, gold and cream, catching the light with a silky luminosity.
Bushy Bunny showing the rabbit standing upright. The fur is densely stitched in layered soft grey, warm brown, amber and cream threads, individual hairs suggested throughout the body. The pink-lined ear, dark eye and fine whiskers are precisely worked, the rabbit's alert, curious expression clearly conveyed. Close-up detail of Bushy Bunny showing the head and upper body embroidery. Individual stitches in soft grey, warm amber-brown and cream follow the direction of the fur across the face and neck with exceptional delicacy. The eye is worked in deep charcoal with a fine highlight, the ear interior in soft pink and grey, and individual whiskers extend from the muzzle in fine single threads.
Greenwich Parakeet, full artwork view. The parakeet sits squarely on a graphite-drawn branch, facing the viewer with quiet directness. The plumage is densely stitched in layered lime green, yellow-green and deeper teal-green, with a pale grey-white breast and iridescent teal wing edges. The pink-red beak and amber eyes are precisely worked, the tail visible below the branch in vivid green and dark grey. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Greenwich Parakeet showing the full body embroidery from the front. Thousands of fine stitches in lime, yellow-green, mid-green and teal build the plumage with exceptional texture, the pale grey-white breast clearly contrasting with the vivid outer feathers. The pink-red beak is stitched in warm rose and crimson, the amber eyes precisely worked, and iridescent teal thread catches the light at the wing edges.
Hyde Blue Tit, full artwork view. The blue tit stands on a pencil-drawn branch, facing right. The cobalt blue crown, white cheeks, dark eye stripe and blue collar are all precisely stitched, with teal and green-blue wings and a bright yellow breast and belly worked in fine layered threads. The grey legs and feet grip the lightly drawn thorny branch below. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Hyde Blue Tit showing the embroidery of the head, breast and wings. The cobalt blue crown is densely stitched with teal highlights, the white facial disc smooth and precise, and the amber-brown eye clearly defined. The teal and green wing feathers are individually worked, transitioning to bright yellow and yellow-green on the breast, the stitching direction following the natural lie of each feather with exceptional delicacy.
Bushy Sitting Deer, full artwork view. The stag is depicted resting and facing directly forward with quiet composure. His wide antlers are densely stitched in dark chocolate, warm amber and grey-brown thread. The face is worked in layered grey, brown and cream, with the pale throat and chest contrasting with the warmer spotted coat on either side. A faint pencil-drawn ground of leaves and grass surrounds the lower body. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Bushy Sitting Deer showing the face, antlers and upper body. The antlers are stitched in dark brown and warm amber threads with individual tines clearly defined. The face is worked in fine layered stitches of grey-brown, warm amber and cream, with dark amber eyes, a black nose and a soft pink mouth visible. The pale cream throat transitions to the warmer amber and brown spotted coat below with exceptional textural detail.
Hyde Squirrel, an original hand embroidery by Susannah Weiland, shown unframed on white cotton-satin fabric. A grey squirrel strides purposefully to the right, its magnificent tail sweeping upward in a full arc. Pencil-drawn grass beneath its feet grounds the figure, while the embroidered fur shifts from warm russet browns through cool silver-greys, capturing the animal's energy and characteristic markings with lifelike precision. Close-up detail of Hyde Squirrel by Susannah Weiland, showing the head and upper body of the embroidered grey squirrel. The intricate hand stitching is clearly visible — overlapping strands of fine thread in tawny brown, warm gold, ash grey and near-black build the texture of the fur across the back and shoulders. The face is rendered with particular delicacy: a bright, dark eye ringed with pale stitching, fine whiskers emerging from the muzzle, and subtle tonal shifts defining the cheek and ear.
Regent Magpie, an original hand embroidery by Susannah Weiland, shown unframed on white cotton-satin fabric. The magpie faces left in classic profile, its bold black-and-white markings rendered in tonal pencil drawing, while the wing and tail feathers are brought to life with densely hand-stitched threads in electric turquoise, cobalt blue, iridescent green and flashes of copper and violet — capturing the hidden spectacle of this familiar park bird with striking precision. Close-up detail of Regent Magpie by Susannah Weiland, showing the head, breast and upper wing of the embroidered magpie. The contrast between the pencil-drawn passages and the hand-stitched embroidery is clearly visible: the black head and white belly are rendered in soft graphite tones on cotton-satin, while the wing feathers burst into bands of luminous teal, cobalt blue and bright green thread, with deeper purple and black strands woven between them.
Greenwich Jackdaw, full artwork view, unframed. The jackdaw is depicted in profile on a white ground, its wings and body densely stitched in shifting tones of cobalt, purple, teal and olive green that capture the bird's natural iridescence. The pale grey cheeks and fluffy white chest contrast with the dark embroidered cap and tail. Signed by the artist. Greenwich Jackdaw, close artwork view showing the hand embroidery in full. The layering of silky, matt and metallic threads across the wings and body creates a rich, iridescent effect in cobalt blue, violet, teal and gold-green. The pale eye ring is precisely stitched against the dark cap, and the soft grey-white chest feathers are worked in fine silvery threads.
Young Richmond Deer, an original hand embroidery by Susannah Weiland, shown unframed on white cotton-satin fabric. The young fallow deer stands amid bare winter stems and grasses rendered in tonal pencil, its body facing left while it turns its head to look directly forward. The embroidered coat shifts between warm gold, sandy brown and pale silver-grey, with the darker tones of the crown contrasting with the cream softness of the neck and chest. Close-up detail of Young Richmond Deer by Susannah Weiland, focusing on the face, head and upper body of the embroidered fallow deer. The animal gazes directly at the viewer with an expression of calm, wide-eyed curiosity. The intricate hand stitching is fully revealed at this scale: fine threads in warm brown, ash grey and cream build the texture of the face and muzzle with remarkable delicacy, while the darker crown — stitched in deep chocolate brown and near-black — frames the alert ears.
St James Gosling, an original hand embroidery by Susannah Weiland, shown unframed on white cotton-satin fabric. The gosling stands on oversized feet, leaning slightly forward with its bill open as if calling out — full of the restless energy of a very young bird. The embroidery works across the whole figure: bands of dark brown-black and pale silver-grey thread define the characteristic striped down of a mallard gosling, while warm buff and golden tones appear along the flanks and legs. Close-up detail of St James Gosling by Susannah Weiland, showing the head, neck and upper body of the embroidered gosling. At this scale the extraordinary fineness of the hand stitching is fully visible: thousands of individual thread strokes build the texture of the downy feathers across the crown and cheek in dark brown and warm taupe, contrasting with the softer pale grey and cream stitching of the face and throat.
Hyde Swan, full artwork view, unframed. The mute swan is depicted standing, its plumage densely stitched in white, pearl grey and cool teal-blue threads with individual wing feathers clearly defined. The orange and black beak is worked in warm amber and burnt orange, contrasting with the delicate tonal embroidery of the body. Signed by the artist. Close-up detail of Hyde Swan showing the hand embroidery of the neck, head and wings. Fine stitching in white, silver, grey and teal threads captures the layered texture of the feathers, with individual wing and body feathers clearly defined. The beak is stitched in vivid amber and orange with a soft pink tip, and the black facial marking precisely worked around the eye.
Richmond Riverside Heron by Susannah Weiland. An original hand embroidery showing the heron's upper body and head in detail — deep navy crown, pale grey breast, long trailing decorative plumes in warm gold and cream, and a sharp bill stitched in gold and blush pink. From the Royal Park Life collection. Close-up detail of Richmond Riverside Heron by Susannah Weiland. Fine embroidery threads in navy, slate blue, silver-grey, soft white and warm buff build the complex layered plumage of the head and breast, with the golden eye and long two-tone bill rendered with exceptional precision.
Hyde Park Parakeets by Susannah Weiland. An original hand embroidery on cotton-satin fabric showing two ring-necked parakeets facing each other on a branch, their bold embroidered plumage in bright lime, emerald and teal contrasting dramatically with the tonal pencil-drawn winter branches filling the background. Close-up detail of Hyde Park Parakeets by Susannah Weiland, showing one parakeet perched on a branch with its long tail feathers visible. Fine embroidery threads in lime green, vivid teal, deep emerald and iridescent blue-green reveal the hidden complexity of the plumage, with a bright red bill and red-ringed eye stitched in sharp detail against the monochrome drawn background.
Greenwich Squirrel by Susannah Weiland. An original hand embroidery on cotton-satin fabric showing a grey squirrel facing the viewer, paws raised to its mouth, with its voluminous tail arching behind. Fine embroidery threads in silver-grey, warm brown and cream capture the dense tufted fur, with long individual whiskers stitched in fine thread. Close-up detail of Greenwich Squirrel by Susannah Weiland, showing the head, face and raised paws. Threads in grey, russet and warm buff build the texture of the fur across the face and body, with a bright dark eye and individual whiskers stitched in fine silver-grey thread fanning outward — capturing the absorbed, self-contained concentration of a squirrel entirely focused on its own small task.
Regent Kestrel by Susannah Weiland. An original hand embroidery on cotton-satin fabric showing a kestrel suspended mid-hover, wings spread wide, talons reaching forward and fierce yellow-green eye fixed directly ahead. Fine embroidery threads in warm russet, tawny brown, grey and cream render each barred and spotted feather across the full span of both wings and fanned tail. Close-up detail of Regent Kestrel by Susannah Weiland, showing the body, head and inner wings. The intensity of the hand stitching is fully visible — warm russet and dark brown threads build the barred plumage of the breast and back, while the fierce yellow-green eye, yellow cere and sharp dark talons are each rendered with precision, conveying the raw, coiled energy of a bird of prey at the moment of the strike.
Bushy Magpie by Susannah Weiland. An original hand embroidery on cotton-satin fabric showing a magpie from above, wings fully spread in flight. Fine embroidery threads in shimmering teal, blue and green fill every feather of the outstretched wings, contrasting with the densely stitched black body and the pale pencil-drawn primary tips fanning at the wing edges. Close-up detail of Bushy Magpie by Susannah Weiland, showing the body and inner wings. The bold black-and-white of the body is stitched in deep black and soft grey-white threads, encircled by the spectacular iridescent wing feathers in teal, emerald and cobalt blue — each individual feather defined by fine thread lines that capture both structure and sheen.
Richmond Deer by Susannah Weiland. An original hand embroidery on cotton-satin fabric depicting three fallow deer at the base of a gnarled ancient tree, their dappled coats stitched in warm gold, russet and cream threads. The surrounding landscape — knotted trunk, long grasses and misty sky — is rendered in tonal pencil drawing, with a single small bird embroidered in black at the upper right. Close-up detail of Richmond Deer by Susannah Weiland, showing three of the embroidered fallow deer amid the pencil-drawn grasses and tree trunk. Fine threads in warm tawny gold, russet brown and pale cream build the dappled coats and alert faces, with one deer looking directly at the viewer — capturing the quiet, watchful character of Richmond's most iconic residents.