This autumn, Hexham Abbey is delighted to welcome Threads Through Revelation, an extraordinary exhibition by acclaimed textile artist Jacqui Parkinson, opening in October. Through fourteen monumental embroidered panels, Parkinson transforms one of the Bible’s most mysterious and challenging books into a vivid, accessible and deeply moving visual experience.
The Book of Revelation, the final book of the Bible, has inspired artists, writers and theologians for centuries. Filled with dramatic imagery, symbolic visions and profound questions about hope, suffering, justice and renewal, it can also feel daunting to modern readers. Parkinson’s remarkable artwork offers a fresh way into the text, helping visitors engage with its themes through colour, texture and storytelling rather than words alone.
Created over more than three years, Threads Through Revelation comprises fourteen large-scale textile panels, each exploring scenes and symbols from Revelation. Using layers of silk, hand-dyed fabrics, metallic leathers, paint and countless stitches, Parkinson has crafted a sequence of artworks that are both spectacular in scale and rich in detail. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through John’s extraordinary visions, exploring the cosmic struggle between good and evil, the promise of God’s justice, and the hope of a new heaven and a new earth.
Parkinson first became captivated by Revelation in 2013 and devoted three years and three months to creating the series. Her aim was not simply to illustrate the biblical text, but to help people see it afresh. Many visitors to previous exhibitions have spoken of being surprised by how accessible the artworks make Revelation, with some saying they finally felt able to understand and appreciate a book they had previously avoided.
What makes Threads Through Revelation particularly powerful is its balance between drama and hope. While Revelation contains images of conflict, judgement and uncertainty, Parkinson sees it fundamentally as a story of hope. The exhibition reminds us that beyond the turbulence and challenges of human history lies God’s promise of restoration and renewal. As contemporary events continue to prompt questions about the future, these themes resonate as strongly today as ever.
Set within the historic surroundings of Hexham Abbey, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience these remarkable works in a sacred space designed for reflection. Whether you are familiar with Revelation, curious about biblical art, interested in textiles and embroidery, or simply looking for an inspiring cultural experience, Threads Through Revelation promises to be both thought-provoking and visually breathtaking.
The exhibition forms part of the wider Threads Through the Bible project, one of the largest textile undertakings by a single artist in modern times. Across her Creation, Cross and Revelation series, Parkinson has spent a decade creating forty-four panels comprising more than 25 million stitches. Hexham Abbey is proud to be one of the venues hosting this acclaimed national touring exhibition.
We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the region to discover the beauty, imagination and hope woven into every panel. Come and encounter the Story that ends all stories through an exhibition unlike any other.
Threads Through Revelation
Hexham Abbey
13 October to 22 November 2026
FREE ADMISSION