CAROLINE Dunn discovered textiles by one of those wonderful, unexpected chances that can change lives.

“As a PhD student, in a new city, knowing no one, I wanted an undemanding hobby to offset hours working alone in the university library,” she recalls.

“I found an embroidery class, which I thought would fit the bill perfectly, and signed up. This undemanding hobby became a passion and five years later my PhD thesis was written up while on the first year of an HND in textiles.”

Caroline later did an MA in contemporary applied arts and her textile practice is now an essential part of her life, so much so that the textile artist from Finghall, Leyburn, is now exhibiting at Pocklington Arts Centre.

She uses mixed-media techniques and machine embroidery to create works that reflect her interest in the natural world of landscapes and the birds that inhabit them, along with the more stylised world of medieval art and craft.

Natural fabrics are employed as backgrounds that are then painted and dyed before being embellished with machine stitching by Caroline, who often incorporates antique lace, whitework and printed or woven silks, appliquéing them to the backgrounds created.

Artworks are for sale and the exhibition will run until March 31. Opening times are Tuesday, 10am to 5pm; Thursday, 10am to 1pm; Friday, 10am to 4pm; Saturday, 10am to 1pm; admission is free.