THIS IS ENGLAND

Community Artwork Created with Reclaimed Flags

2026

This Is England is a large-scale community artwork, led by Emily Peasgood, created with residents, refugees and asylum seekers across Thanet. Made from reclaimed England and Union Jack flags stitched together with flags, fabrics and personal contributions from people of many different cultures and backgrounds, the work transforms a symbol that has become increasingly divisive into one of belonging, connection and shared identity.

Created through free community sewing workshops, the project brought together 73 people who shared stories, stitched side by side and explored what England means to the people who call it home. The resulting artwork measures almost 20 feet wide by 12 feet high, reflecting the scale of the community that helped create it.

The original artwork is now exhibiting alongside a short documentary film at St George's Church in Ramsgate. Until now, the project has been created entirely through voluntary effort. We're currently raising funds through Crowdfunder to help the exhibition tour more widely and create a new series of lightweight outdoor flags, allowing the project's message of belonging to reach communities across the UK. 
A child sits at a table concentrating on a craft activity, holding a pale feather or fabric shape among glue, colourful materials and sewing supplies.
A smiling person wearing a dark cap holds a red and blue textile panel featuring the Mongolian emblem and horizontal rainbow-coloured strips.
A person stands behind a table piled with cut flags and fabric scraps, with large Kurdistan, Somalia and Eritrea flags hanging on the wall.
A bearded person holds a beige textile panel showing an embroidered landscape and watermelon with the words “HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY.”
A large group sits around a wooden table covered with fabric, embroidery hoops, thread, scissors, mugs and sewing materials, with flags hanging behind them.
A person with green-streaked dark hair holds a yellow-backed textile artwork incorporating red, white, green and blue flag fabrics.
A person with long hair works at a table with fabric and scissors, with a line of small international flags and larger flags hanging behind them.
A smiling person holds a beige textile panel decorated with folded red, blue and white flag fabric and small embroidered yellow stars.
Hands arrange green patterned fabric pieces around a Dominica flag laid on a wooden table beside scissors, thread and pens.

The team
Emily_Peasgood

Emily Peasgood

Lead Artist, Producer and Community Engagement | emilypeasgood.com
Jacqui Ansell

Jacqui Ansell

Workshop Facilitator and Textile Lead
Kate_Lynn_Devere

Kate Lynn-Devere

Workshop Facilitator | katelynndevere.co.uk
Emma_Woods

Emma Woods

Project Manager
Jessica_Clements_Headshot

Jessica Clements

Assistant Project Manager | www.jessanne.com
Angela_Wooi

Angela Wooi

Workshop Facilitator | www.angelawooi.com
FifthWallLogo2020

Doug Gillen / Fifth Wall

Photography and Film | www.fifthwalltv.com
Co-Creation Partners
This project has been made possible entirely through voluntary effort. Thank you to Union Church for supporting so many of our workshops, and to ARK Cliftonville Cultural Space, Ramsgate Space, and Christine Tongue of The Red Hall for generously providing workshop venues.
 
Most of all, thank you to every volunteer and participant who donated their time, skills and stories to help create this remarkable artwork.
Funders
THIS IS ENGLAND was funded by ARTCRY, an organisation that supports fast-response political artworks in public space. The project received £2,500, which covered materials, workshop facilitation and professional documentation of the artwork's creation. As the project grew, many facilitators generously volunteered their time, and the photography and film were provided at a significantly reduced cost.
 
All participants, volunteers and lead artist Emily Peasgood contributed to the project on a voluntary basis.
 
Now that the artwork is complete, we're raising funds through Crowdfunder to help THIS IS ENGLAND reach more people. The campaign will support a touring exhibition and the creation of a new series of lightweight outdoor flags, allowing the project's message of belonging to travel to communities across the UK.
 
If you'd like to help the project continue its journey, we'd be incredibly grateful for your support.
 

Crowdfunder Campaign Video

Support our Crowdfunder

Gallery
Three people stand with their backs to the camera, reaching upwards to fasten a large red-and-white cross-patterned textile to a wooden frame.
Three people gather around a worktable covered with red-and-white flag fabric, paper plans and pens in a studio space.
A person with long hair works at a table with fabric and scissors, with a line of small international flags and larger flags hanging behind them.
A child sits at a table concentrating on a craft activity, holding a pale feather or fabric shape among glue, colourful materials and sewing supplies.
A person stands behind a table piled with cut flags and fabric scraps, with large Kurdistan, Somalia and Eritrea flags hanging on the wall.
Two older people sit at a table working with red, blue, white and patterned fabric pieces, scissors and sewing materials.
A bearded person holds a beige textile panel showing an embroidered landscape and watermelon with the words “HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY.”
A smiling person in a cream fleece holds a beige fabric panel with a small South African flag crossed by colourful lines of hand stitching.
An older person with white hair and black glasses holds a beige fabric panel featuring a white bird, green land shapes and the word “HUMAN.”
A person with green-streaked dark hair holds a yellow-backed textile artwork incorporating red, white, green and blue flag fabrics.
A smiling person wearing a dark cap holds a red and blue textile panel featuring the Mongolian emblem and horizontal rainbow-coloured strips.
An overhead view of colourful embroidery hoops, embroidery thread, scissors, tape and an embroidery book arranged on a wooden table.
A smiling person holds a beige textile panel decorated with folded red, blue and white flag fabric and small embroidered yellow stars.
Close-up of hands stitching red thread into beige fabric held in an embroidery hoop beneath an appliquéd scene containing a watermelon slice and plants.
Hands arrange green patterned fabric pieces around a Dominica flag laid on a wooden table beside scissors, thread and pens.
A person with green-streaked dark hair and a green cardigan works at a table in front of a large red-and-white cross backdrop.
A large group sits around a wooden table covered with fabric, embroidery hoops, thread, scissors, mugs and sewing materials, with flags hanging behind them.
A small St George’s flag hangs partway down a street lamp beside a road, with green fields and an overcast sky behind it.
A high aerial view across Ramsgate Harbour, with the large patchwork textile and several people appearing small at the base of the sea wall.
Seven people hold a large textile containing rows of decorated flag panels against a stone sea wall, with fishing boats and harbour buildings behind them.
Previous
Threaded Shelter
Next
Haydock Library

Selected Works
Listening DeskInteractive Sound Archive Sculpture
Threaded ShelterInteractive Sound Installation
This Is EnglandInclusive Community Flag
Haydock LibraryInclusive Library Transformation

Contact Us

Emily Peasgood Studio
St Lawrence Industrial Estate
Ramsgate, Kent CT11
Email: emily@emilypeasgood.com
Instagram: @emilypeasgoodstudio 

Copyright © 2026 Emily Peasgood.

All rights reserved.