Penny Maltby is a British textile artist and straw worker whose practice explores the quiet beauty of traditional craft through a contemporary lens. Working with natural fibres, and heritage techniques, Penny creates pieces that celebrate both material and process.

Her work draws from a deep appreciation of the land, often inspired by rural landscapes, historical folk traditions, and the slow rhythms of seasonal change. Whether weaving with straw or stitching with cloth, Penny’s approach is meditative and grounded in sustainability, honouring time-honoured methods while allowing space for innovation and expression.

As a straw worker, Penny uses techniques such as plaiting, corn dolly making, and decorative knotting—crafts historically rooted in agricultural customs. In her textile work, she combines hand painted imagery with digital techniques to produce contemporary textiles that echo memory, aesthetics. place, and nature of these crafts.

Her pieces range from intimate objects to larger installations and have been shown in galleries, craft fairs, and community settings. Alongside her practice, under the moniker ‘Ministry of Straw’ Penny shares her skills through workshops and collaborations, helping to keep traditional crafts alive and accessible.

Read some recent reviews of Penny’s drop in events.

‘Penny is a fantastic tutor. She is thoughtful, organised, warm and generous in sharing her craft. Her harvest knot activity was very popular at the museum Late Night and I saw lots of people proudly wearing their beautiful finished pieces. I'd love to find more ways we could work together on sharing her important and endangered crafts.’

Beth McDougall
Families and Communities Officer, Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.

Penny also teaches creative bookmaking and artists book making at summer schools and to craft groups across the UK. To find out more about her bookmaking pls look here

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Memberships

Basketmakers Association ,Oxfordshire Basketmakers, Heritage Crafts, Prism Textiles and Design Nation.

Penny’s work is concerned with the process of making and intangible cultural heritage. She is interested in using traditional crafts in new settings bringing them to new audiences and working in a range of materials. Her first career was in Hospitality, Hotels and Restaurants although she carried a lifelong love of making, sewing and embroidery from an early age. A desire for a change in direction led her to pursue a creative career full time. She is a member of Prism Textiles, Design nation, Heritage Crafts and the Basketmakers Association. She works from a studio in Oxford.

Penny teaches regular workshops as well as demonstrating at various craft events.

Previous venues, events and clients

Pitt Rivers Museum, Harcourt Arboretum, Oxford Botanic Gardens, Kelmscott Manor, New Brewery Arts, Milton Keynes Art Centre, Hisotric England, Colford Gifting, Gails Bakery, Hamblin Bread, CLW Events, Hemingway Designs, Yan Yak handbags, Oxford Arts and Crafts summer school, Modern Makers Summer school, Weald and Downland Museum