13/06/2026
Everyone at Hand & Lock extends their warmest congratulations to Diana Springall on being awarded an MBE in The King's Birthday Honours List for services to Arts and Crafts.
For many decades Diana has been one of the most influential figures in British embroidery. As an internationally respected textile artist, teacher, collector, author and tireless advocate for stitch as a fine art, she has inspired generations of embroiderers and helped elevate embroidery to the recognition it enjoys today. Her remarkable collection of contemporary embroidery is widely regarded as one of the most important collections of its kind in the world.
Beyond her own artistic achievements, Diana has consistently championed the work of others, encouraging emerging artists, supporting embroidery organisations and preserving the rich heritage of textile art for future generations. Her contribution to the embroidery community is immeasurable and this honour is both richly deserved and warmly celebrated.
At Hand & Lock, we have long regarded Diana as the "Queen Bee" of embroidery, a steadfast friend, mentor, supporter and ambassador for the art form we all cherish.
Her huge support for the where she has been both a mentor and a judge over the years has been enormously appreciated and has been a tremendous contribution to its worldwide success.
We salute Diana on this wonderful and well-deserved recognition and thank her for a lifetime devoted to the promotion and preservation of embroidery.
Congratulations Diana Springall MBE. May your example continue to inspire embroiderers around the world for many years to come.
