Meet the Team: Sophie Graney, Workshop Supervisor
Our Meet the Team feature is a great way for us to introduce you to the Fine Cell Work team. To continue the series, we caught up with Sophie, Fine Cell Work's Workshop Supervisor (pictured...
Emily May's South Downs Way Challenge
A few days ago, we came across Emily May’s incredible fundraiser. From 2nd to 9th April 2026, she’ll be walking over 100 miles along the South Downs Way, from Winchester to Eastbourne, to raise money and awareness for Fine Cell Work.
Emily is an artist and print designer, focusing on conscious consumption and creating pieces she describes as “beautiful enough to be kept forever”.
What makes this connection even more special is that she is a Clothworker. In 2017, the Clothworkers’ Foundation helped us establish the Clothworkers’ Studio, our post-release workshop space at our London Hub.
Read on to learn more about Emily’s motivations, and how she hopes this journey will inspire her work.
A little introduction to Emily.
Hello, I’m Emily, an artist living in North West Essex. I’ve been a lifelong creative but my heart lies in textiles. I studied printed textile design at university and now run my own business creating illustrated products, and also collaborate with fashion designers, museums and galleries.
When she first heard about Fine Cell Work.
I was just a youngster back in 2010 when I visited the ‘Quilts’ exhibition at the V&A but I have kept the ‘HMP Wandsworth Prison Quilt’ in my mind ever since.
Fine Cell Work was the charity behind the artwork which was carefully stitched by an all-male group of London based prisoners. The aim of the quilt was to convey the experience of incarceration through stitch, telling stories through textiles has always been a key theme in my own work and now I started thinking about the social benefits of creativity too.
Her motivation to fundraise for Fine Cell Work.
I’m extremely passionate about the work Fine Cell Work does for many reasons but my motivation could be summed up as- Some people don’t get a first chance.
How is Emily preparing for this challenge?
I love walking. It’s excellent for your head, and sorting out creative problems. It’s been something I’ve done every day on purpose for a very long time but for the last few months I’ve walked EVERYWHERE.
Have she done anything like this before?
Never. The nerves are growing huge, but I have a feeling that once I’m sitting on the train coming home I’ll be thinking about where I can walk next.
What Emily hopes to achieve by taking on this challenge.
Raising funds is fantastic and sponsorship is very very welcome, but I’m also keen to raise awareness of the variety of great work FCW do. I’ve talked to so many people over the last few months who’ve been unaware of the charity, my aim is to get them talking to their friends too, spreading the word, spending their money on FCW products and discussing the rehabilitation of prisoners through providing them with purposeful activity.
And she is doing it alone!
This is a solo challenge. I’ve packed my rucksack, all the essentials including plasters and a whistle. I’ll be taking my sketchbook and can’t wait to see what the South Downs inspire me to paint.
Who are her cheerleaders?
I’m very lucky to have the encouragement and support of all my friends at The Clothworkers’ Company, as well as lots of excitement from my local and Instagram communities.
And the whole Fine Cell Work community will be cheering Emily, of course!
How will she celebrate after completing this challenge?
Apart from the enormous breakfast I’m going to eat on the morning after completing my 100th mile (I’ve already checked the menu) the celebration I’m most looking forward to will be taking my sketchbook back to the studio and the adventure of what I’ll create next with the images.
Thank you, Emily, for supporting our work in this way!
You can follow Emily's journey on her instagram page and support her by donating to her campaign.
Curious about Emily's fabulous work? Check it out here.
Feeling inspired and want to create your own fundraiser for Fine Cell Work? Write to us on events@finecellwork.co.uk and we'll be happy to help you through your adventure.
0 comments
