cas holmes : Commissions-Projects

Iris Shadows, detail, private collector

Found materials and textiles are combined with paint and stitch to express ideas in cloth and paper. Reflecting the stories and history of a place or space her work is often collaborative in nature and includes installations for public buildings and the workplace (exampled by Rochester cathedral, )
More details of her work practice can be found on Textileartist.

To arrange a visit to purchase or see examples of current work or for general enquiries please use the contact form.

I am also represented on the Saatchi on line gallery.

Smaller works feature on Stitch Sketch-Shop with a link to my Tictail store.

Red Bowl, Private Collector. Fits the colour scheme beautifully

Work in public collections and commissions include:The Museum of Arts and Design in New York, Arts Council England, West Dean College (Edward James Foundation), Schroder's Finance, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust, The Leonard Cheshire Foundation and the Embroiderer's Guild. 'Garden of Remembrance', (illustrated above) was a commission for the Garden Museum London 2014 (this piece is the front cover for 'Stitch Stories'). It is an example of a commissioned project inspired by the collection at the museum (and the surrounding garden). Additional work in collaboration with a related community-based project between the museum education team and Age UK Bromley and Greenwich, and Timebank looked at memories of gardens in war.

Bluebell 100x100cm Represented in the Embroiderer's Guild Collection
This piece remembers childhood walk through local woodland with my father in Norfolk.

All That Remains. In response to an exhibition about the Titanic

I am delighted to have Cuttings 4 (one of a series of 5) with a private collector. This piece comments of the views from a regular local railway journey. I am equally delighted that this is, by happy co-incidence, also the front cover of 'Connected Cloth'.

Installation of works as part Canterbury Festival as part of Runnymede Revisited (in celebration of the signing of the Magna Carta) at St Peters Church on Oare. Again, I loved how the work responded to the space.

Bird Song. Private Collector, Switzerland

Each Little Bird and Flower.(commission)

This commission uses a vintage wedding dress belonging to the mother of the new owner and a wonderful letter of thanks from the new owner:

'My parents appreciated the simple things in life and had to work hard. They enjoyed the countryside and their garden. Mum loved her flowers and especially primroses, which she would take to my Dad when he became ill. She grieved deeply for him for the rest of her life, and sought comfort in things like the blackbird which would look from the shed roof into the kitchen, calling to her until she fed him. Mum’s favourite hymn was “All things bright an beautiful” which was played at her funeral. I have kept their Bibles which had been important to them in their youth and upon which they based their way of life.These things have been very sensitively worked into this piece, using not only things precious to me, also reflected in materials given to Cas by other people.

Thank you so very much for the piece. It is really exquisite, and reflects Mum, and also Dad, beautifully. I am genuinely very moved by what you have done, and all that you have included. It wasn't till I got home that I saw what you had written on the back!! Simple, stunning and spot on. It is going to be treasured.'

Willowherb and Jug 40cm square private collector

I'd just like to write and say how pleased I am to be the owner of one of your works, at last. It has a personal meaning for me having known you and admired your work for a long time.Willowherb is hanging over my mantelpiece. Somehow it's presence has made the house feel even more like home.

Work on loan to DMH Stallard in Crawley organised through Frickleton Fine Art

Preniac Grasses, Private buyer.

I have long been an admirer of Cas' work,so I was delighted to see her work and studio. Whilst looking at her works I fell in love with Preniac Grasses.This is a subtle and delicate echo of the the landscape and the first of a new series.This like all her work is deceptively simple, the colours misty whispers evoking the peaceful countryside. It now hangs on our wall at home and gives my husband and I much pleasure.

and a visitor to my studio:

I was very thrilled and energised to view your work - and impressed at your enormous output - competing with Turner for quantity! I was fascinated by the exquisite detail: your thought- processes in blending different media with your skilful needlecraft and your approach to colour - some so glorious, some so 'naturelle', some duplicating the muted shades of nature or atmosphere. All your work seems to require the viewer to interact on a mental level to connect with your ideas as you created the work. As a result, I was, therefore, delighted to have the opportunity of seeing some of your sketch books, and felt very privileged to be invited into your 'holy-of-holies' - your studio and your attic den - to appreciate the beauty of some of the work, and to experience the thought provoking aspect of other pieces. THANK YOU... It was like a bottle of champagne to the mind and has certainly re-invigorated my intentions to get back into my own art-world.

Sylvia Hammond(...not sure about the Turner comment (no one compares to him).

'Natural History'. text, images and found materials reflecting the locality of and history of Sevenoaks, commissioned for Kaleidoscope Museum, Library and Gallery complex. The project also included exhibition and workshops in the gallery developing individual projects and themes.

Place in Time, Princess Royal Hospital, Orpington.Incorporating images sourced by patients and staff.

Thin Red Line, Private collector, USA

I am delighted to have the piece from 'Remnants from not so Ordinary Lives' (shown here on the top left at Maidstone studios.) in two private collections (two pieces are a centrepiece for a reception area) The owner, of one piece is also a teacher at Whitney High School in Cerritos, California, decided to show the work to her students:

'I have to tell you that your piece hanging in my classroom today drew the kids in. I could hear oohs and ahhs as they can into the room. And the neatest thing was watching them get up close to see all the wonderful stitching/printing/collaging, etc. And then asking permission to touch. They just really needed to touch your piece as I did several times today. It looks so transparent and is so lightweight, not what we are used to producing here. It's a very magical piece.'

I am thrilled the work is both loved for itself and as a teaching tool.