In March 2023, I was invited to go to Medina in Saudi Arabia to deliver workshops for female Artisans. The brief was to design three vessels which were then transported to Saudi and made in a new workshop built at the foot of Mount Uhud, an incredibly spiritual location for Muslims. My stay was a once in a lifetime experience which meant a great deal to me. Being engulfed in a new culture, meeting new people, and learning a new language enabled me to understand and connect with some absolutely amazing people. The whole experience was made even more special by the beginning of Ramadan.

The hospitality was perfect, (I still miss everyone), and my hosts made time to take me to visit the Islamic Arts Biennale at Jeddah which was exceptional; both the curation and the work. It was one of the most moving exhibitions I’ve seen in a long time: