Judith Pinnell was born and educated in Australia. She lived in the UK for 29 years where she obtained a City and Guilds Diploma in Embroidery and attended various courses in textile dyeing. Returning to Perth in 1983 she embarked on a 'journey of discovery' by becoming involved in machine embroidery. She began teaching in Perth, rural Western Australia and interstate, concentrating mainly on machine embroidery, and developing an all-consuming love for colour and texture. Seven years ago she 'discovered' silk paper and the rest, as they say, is history.