A textile artist’s quilt which was inspired by the painted door on a fisherman’s hut has led her to be shortlisted in an international competition.

Eastern Daily Press: Textile artist Annette Morgan has been shortlisted for a major international prize. Picture: Ian BurtTextile artist Annette Morgan has been shortlisted for a major international prize. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Fisherman’s Door by Annette Morgan could help her scoop the award of Fine Art Quilt Master 2018.

Part of the Festival of Quilts, the competition attracts hundreds of entries and is judged by a panel of leading figures from the art and quilting community.

Mrs Morgan, who lives with her husband Dan in Thetford, said she first saw the door in Felixstowe 10 years ago but only started making the quilt last year.

The 65-year-old said: “There is a really good second hand bookshop in Felixstowe and my husband and I would go there and to a textile shop and then on to Felixstowe Ferry.

Eastern Daily Press: The door on the fisherman's hut in Felixstowe Ferry which inspired Annette Morgan's quilt. Picture: Annette MorganThe door on the fisherman's hut in Felixstowe Ferry which inspired Annette Morgan's quilt. Picture: Annette Morgan (Image: Archant)

“We were walking along and there was this shed made up of random bits of wood. It was really unusual. With my work I am inspired by what I see around me visually.”

Mrs Morgan was taught to knit and sew by her father at a young age and often knitted items for her son and daughter.

A theatre sister at Charing Cross Hospital, London, in her late 30s she became very interested in textiles and completed her City and Guilds qualifications in Norwich.

She eventually left nursing and spent 20 years teaching City and Guilds courses in Ipswich and Cambridge.

Eastern Daily Press: Textile artist Annette Morgan has been shortlisted for a major international prize. Picture: Ian BurtTextile artist Annette Morgan has been shortlisted for a major international prize. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Her teaching and exhibitions has seen her travel around the country and the world.

On why she enjoys textiles, she said: “It is just being creative with the fabric and stitching. There is a meditate quality about it.

“It is the process of making that I enjoy and then if I win awards and prizes, that is a bonus.”

Such is her passion for textiles; she set up Creative Stitch in partnership with Suffolk East Federation of Women’s Institute, to offer textile courses. It was started when some qualifications were stopped by City and Guilds.

Eastern Daily Press: Textile artist Annette Morgan has been shortlisted for a major international prize. Picture: Ian BurtTextile artist Annette Morgan has been shortlisted for a major international prize. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

“On a lot of courses people make friends for life,” said Mrs Morgan. “It helps with mental health issues and I have met people who have got jobs off the back of it.”

Mrs Morgan, who plans to retire from teaching next July, will find out if she has the Fine Art Quilt Master 2018 award and the £5,000 prize money at The Festival of Quilts Awards Ceremony on August 9.