Pavilion Pedal Power
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Pavilion Pedal Power

Artist Harriet Riddell. A black and white photograph of a woman sitting at a sewing machine.
Artist Harriet Riddell

Artist Harriet Riddell invites Brighton public to help live-stitch iconic royal palace.

Visitors to the Royal Pavilion Garden on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 August 2026 will have the unique chance to power a live artwork of Brighton’s iconic royal palace, but only if they are willing to break a light sweat.

Performance textile artist Harriet Riddell, known creatively as InStitchYou, is setting up her famous bicycle-powered sewing machine in the Royal Pavilion Garden for two special days of live stitching.

Using freehand machine embroidery, Harriet will stitch a detailed portrait of the historic building, relying entirely on members of the public to hop on her specially adapted stationary bike and pedal to generate electricity for her sewing machine.

If cyclists pedal too fast or too slow, the sewing machine responds instantly, creating an interactive, energetic atmosphere where local residents, tourists, and passers-by become active co-creators of the final artwork.

Harriet, who originally created her pedal-powered rig while working in the green craft fields at Glastonbury, has spent over a decade travelling globally to capture landscapes, market scenes, weddings, and iconic heritage sites, including Winchester Cathedral and street markets across India.

Artist Harriet Riddell. A black and white photograph of a woman sitting at a sewing machine.
Artist Harriet Riddell

When people jump on the bike, they don’t just generate the electricity needed to power Harriet’s sewing machine – they also become part of the creative process, chatting with the artist as she stitches the scene unfolding around them.

"I’ve spent years setting up my machine in all sorts of places, and the magic always happens through the conversations. Every person who hops on the bike brings energy to the artwork in more ways than one, helping power my sewing machine while sharing stories and observations that become part of the experience. “The Royal Pavilion is one of the most stunning and distinctive buildings in the UK, and I can't wait to see the Brighton community bring it to life on canvas through pedal power."
— Harriet Riddell
"The Royal Pavilion Garden has always been a vibrant space for creative encounters, and hosting Harriet's unique live-stitching project is a wonderful way to bring people together," "It offers our visitors and local community a fun, active, and memorable way to connect with our heritage while playing a direct hand in creating a remarkable piece of art. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the final piece of work!"
— Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums

Harriet will be in the Garden on both 5 and 6 August from approximately 10am to 4pm and is completely free for the public to watch and participate.

Members of the public of all ages and fitness levels, from keen cyclists to curious kids, are encouraged to take a turn on the bike to keep the stitching moving. All participants should be aware that the event will be filmed for Harriet’s social media channels.

It is hoped that the completed stitched portrait will capture not only the grand Indo-Saracenic architecture of George IV’s pleasure palace, but also the dynamic spirit of the people who helped power its creation across the two days.

See more on Harriet’s Instagram

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