The University of Sheffield awards honorary degrees to people who have given distinguished service or bought distinction to the University, the City of Sheffield or the region. Diana Springall is a leading British textile artist and advocate for the art of embroidery where she has established one of the most comprehensive collections of British embroidery and stitch-based textile art in the world. Diana was recommended for the honorary degree due to her advocacy and for creating one of the university's iconic artworks which will remain in situ for past, present, and future students to admire, knowing this is their goal when they come to university.
Diana is a life-long artist and embroiderer who was commissioned by Convocation in 1987 to create a piece of art for the back wall of the main hall in Western Bank Library. The artwork Diana created is titled 'Graduation', a large scale textile artwork depicting a procession of graduates in their caps and gowns walking across the back wall. Diana's 'Graduation' has been an integral feature and focal point since its inception nearly 40 years ago. It was commissioned to mark the Centenary of the foundation of Firth College, one of the University's predecessors.
Graduation is 12.3 x 2.5 meters in size and recently went through a two year conservation programme to restore the materials used to support and display the large embroidered appliqué textile panels. The panels are sandwiched between two sheets of plastic which enables a wave effect to give movement to the piece and structure. Over time, the plastic Diana used had turned yellow and brittle so it as decided in 2021 to remove Graduation and restore it. The Heritage Collections Manager engaged with the Department of Chemistry - Professor Tony Ryan and his student Rosie Hood to analyse the plastic and recommend new material to help preserve the textiles for another 40 years.
Three films have been created to document the restoration project which are available to watch on the Heritage Collections webpage under the heading 'Textiles'.
Diana was overwhelmed at receiving such an honour and gave a speech thanking those who have supported her throughout her career and for helping with the making of the Graduation textile.