SHEPHERD england is an independent textile studio founded by Gemma Shepherd in 2005 — the pieces created are not defined by category, but by a consistent approach to colour, pattern, composition and form.

Graphic design was the starting point for a creative journey through different disciplines, with the work coming to reside predominantly in textiles while retaining a distinct and recognisable visual language.

Knitted textiles have formed a central part of the work, with pieces developed and made by hand using vintage Japanese domestic knitting machines. Knitting sits alongside processes including hand painting, cutting and felting, with materials often worked, reworked and combined as ideas evolve through making.

References are eclectic and wide-ranging, drawn from art, design, popular culture and the everyday.

SHEPHERD is conceived as an ongoing collection, with pieces carried forward and evolved over time. Colours and variations change, existing designs are revisited and new work is introduced without being tied to a conventional seasonal cycle.

Pieces are made individually to order, keeping production closely connected to demand and materials in use rather than held as finished stock. Remnants and existing textiles are kept and returned to through the making process.