The inspiration for this piece came from the story of Annie Bindon Carter (1883-1969) who began volunteering at Wharncliffe War Hospital in 1915 where she introduced the injured military personnel to painting and sewing as a form of occupational activity /rehabilitation .

Quickly realising that many men would never be able to return to their former employment due to their injuries Annie began to champion their needs selling the things the men made to friends and garnered their help to turn this into a charitable business with the sole purpose of providing the veterans with Work not Charity.

Painted Fabrics Ltd (1917 -1959) produced textiles of high quality and counted the Princess Royal and Maud Lady Fitzwilliam amongst its clienteles and supporters.

To bring hope through art making and enable the veterans to stitch their lives back together is a story worth recounting and honouring.
From pain and suffering rose the Phoenix of hope. Abc 2021 Flo