Fine Cell Work, the charity and social enterprise which makes handmade products in British prisons, has launched a new collection with designer Neisha Crosland. Neisha presented her first cushion collection for Fine Cell Work at Decorex this month.

The three designs; Tango, Pyramid Trellis and Grape, can be co-ordinated to work together. The collection has a Chinese and Japanese Art Deco feel and contains Neisha’s signature mixing of geometrics with florals, with a feeling of modern yet vintage. 

Neisha said: "What a joy to be working with Fine Cell Work and the prison inmates who have translated my designs with such sensitivity onto such beautiful hand-stitched needlepoint cushions. I really hope that they all enjoyed working with my designs as much as I have enjoyed watching the progress of this project."

Fine Cell Work products are designed in collaboration with the country’s leading contemporary designers and are all hand-produced in limited editions. The enterprise works in 31 prisons with more than 600 prisoners a year. Fine Cell Work trains prisoners to do high-quality, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem. They also provide training and support on release.

Neisha trained in textiles at Camberwell School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. In 1994, she started her own eponymous textile label designing and producing scarves for international fashionable shops.

Today she works from her south London studio designing pattern for tiles, rugs, wallpapers, fabrics, home accessories, stationery and scarves. In 2006, she was honoured with a Royal Designer for Industry Distinction (RDI) and in 2017 University of Arts London made her an Honorary Fellow in recognition for her work in textiles. Her book Life of a Pattern was published in 2017.

Visit www.finecellwork.com for more details about Neisha’s collection.

Read Beth Smith’s article on Fine Cell Work in Selvedge Issue 42 Intrigue.