If sewing machines conjure up rather old-fashioned images, then take a look at a new Bradford art exhibition.

Art graduate Naseem Darbey, pictured, creates portraits and pictures using a sewing machine, directly on to pieces of wallpaper.

Amazingly, she does not draw an outline first, but just sews freehand, using her needle as a pencil.

The spectacular results are on display at South Square Gallery on Thornton Road, Thornton.

Naseem, 23, of Thornton, Bradford, who studied a degree in art and design at Bradford College, said: "I like experimental drawing and playing with different ideas and processes. I tried drawing with cocktail sticks dipped in ink and it stemmed from there.

"I have always been interested in people and portraiture. At college I studied textiles and illustration, so I married the two. The needle was just another tool to draw with."

Most works are sewed portraits of friends, but one group of cocktail stick drawings is of her grandmother's house.

A giant picture several metres wide is a scene from a fancy dress party, which took her two days to create. Most portraits take between one and two hours.

Naseem, who has been drawing since she was a child, received a £1,400 Yorkshire Arts grant from its "making and showing fund" to put the exhibition together, with a contribution from the gallery.

She is also giving demonstrations and workshops for anyone who is curious or interested to learn the technique.

"If you drop the teeth on the sewing machine you can move around in all directions," she said. "It is a bit acrobatic sometimes, but I roll up the wallpaper as I go.

"I use wallpaper because it is flexible, it is cheap and if I embroider on to fabric you have to use a ring, with takes away the freedom of movement."

Naseem's art can be seen at a preview event tonight from 7pm until 9pm. The exhibition runs Tuesdays to Fridays from noon to 3pm until March 2. For workshop details ring the gallery on (01274) 834747.