Russian artist Vera Shimunia is creating stunning landscapes with a needle and thread

Between irreverent yarn bombing and “Fuck the Patriarchy”-themed cross-stitch sets, it’s fair to say that needlecraft has undergone something of a revival in the past half decade. But for every Star Wars embroidery kit that hits the mainstream, there are tens of artists toiling away to bring ancient crafts back into the spotlight. And one of those artists is the St Petersburg-based Vera Shimunia.

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Described as a landscape artist with a needle and thread, Shimunia creates miniature worlds of swirling skies and billowing clouds which burst with multi-coloured light. Depth and dimension are created using textured threads and fibres, as well as a range of stitch and knot techniques.

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Shimunia’s work has earned her a legion of online fans, and although she does sell some of her work through the internet, she doesn’t make commissions to order — preferring to journey from one landscape to another as she explores her own practice as an artist.

You can see more of her embroideries on Instagram, and purchase work in her Etsy store.