Needle and Brush: A Mother-Daughter Duo Blending Art, Fashion, and Nostalgia

Local artists Lynne Truex and her daughter Diana Boydell recently showcased their unique and complementary works at the Ealing BEAT art trail under the creative name "Needle and Brush." While they bring distinct experiences to their craft, Lynne and Diana find inspiration in each other’s perspectives and styles. Lynne’s art spans hand-patterned, Japanese-inspired women’s clothing—each piece one-of-a-kind—alongside minutely hand-painted and stitched illustrations of wildflowers and scenes reflecting her 1950s childhood. Diana, on the other hand, creates vibrant landscapes, portraits, and still lifes using oils, acrylics, and watercolors. Recently, she also explored her musical talents, releasing a song titled Destination on Spotify, which shows her evolving artistic range.

Their creative paths have emerged from different backgrounds: Diana with a Fine Art degree, and Lynne through intensive training in fashion and textiles, followed by a degree in stitched textiles. These distinct but intertwined paths contribute to the synergy in their artwork, enabling them to support one another with new ideas and artistic critique. According to them, Diana often encourages the addition of detail, while Lynne knows intuitively when a piece feels complete—a balance that lends depth and diversity to their exhibits.

Inspired by a mutual interest in fine art and fashion, they’re now envisioning a future collaborative venture combining their shared love for abstract and representational art through digitally printed fabrics on garment designs. Together, they aim to merge nostalgia and contemporary inspiration, creating wearable art pieces that tell stories of past and present through innovative textile design.