Port to Port is a new textile artwork celebrating the historic maritime communities of Lowestoft, Ipswich, and Felixstowe.

It is an ambitious, travelling installation project by artist Sophie Giller creating a journey connections between the three Suffolk ports. The artwork began its journey in Lowestoft in June 2025, and is now here in Ipswich for SPILL Festival October 2025 and will travel to Felixstowe next year 2026.

The beautiful centre-piece of the project is a large-scale installation composed of sail-shaped patchworks. Each sail is created with local community who contribute personal memories, images, and objects. These elements are printed, collaged, drawn, and stitched onto textiles to form richly layered and deeply personal patchwork pieces.

Rooted in the heritage of Suffolk’s port towns, Port to Port celebrates both the region’s maritime past and the collective experiences of the people who live there. Drawing on traditional crafts and storytelling, the project creates a moving visual archive of place, memory, and identity. As the installation travels from one port to the next, it will evolve to reflect the unique stories and contributions of each community, becoming a dynamic portrait of Suffolk’s coastal life and culture.

Sophie Giller and Holly Scholfield (artist and Port to Port project manager) led workshops, including ceramic tile-painting, linocut printmaking, and screen printing, with Suffolk Refugee Support, Benhall Primary School, and other local community in Ipswich.

Dance performance Saturday 25th October, 1:30-3:30

Edgefield Dance Company and Gaelin Little will make an improvised dance response to the work followed by a Q&A after - all welcome. 

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Port to Port has been developed with participants from Suffolk Artlink, Suffolk Refugee Support and East Coast College.

This is a The Art Station project produced in partnership with SPILL, First Light Festival, and Hamilton MAS.

It is supported by Suffolk County Council and Arts Council England.