A small edition of books made for the ‘Enfolded Journeys’ touring exhibition organised by PAGES Contemporary Artists’ Books and Events

Through my work as a graphic designer for Asylum Welcome, a refugee charity in Oxford, I have been moved by the stories of the people they support; many of whom arrive in the UK after long, difficult journeys. This book documents some of these actual journeys, and highlights the range of countries that people flee from, hoping to make a new life here.

‘Diaspora’ mimics a fold-out books of postcards, with each page highlighting the home country of a refugee and the route they took to reach the UK as a place of sanctuary. Digitally illustrated maps are overlaid with scans of hand-stamped type, and feature a hand stitched journey of migration, representing the strong ties to homelands that endure. The stitched paths are left as dangling threads in the UK as an acknowledgement that many people feel untethered when they arrive here, particularly without support.

Digital illustration and hand stitching on 200gsm gesso paper; 8-page concertina fold; cloth-bound hard covers

Size: 152 x 104mm

Edition size: 8

With thanks to Asylum Welcome for their support, and to all of those who shared their journeys with me.