A talented artist from Derby has seen her spectacular, hand-crafted carnival costumes captivate an international audience of hundreds of millions. Donna Fox's vibrant, large-scale silk creations were a featured highlight of the prestigious Lord Mayor's New Year's Day Parade in London, broadcasting local creativity to the world.
Silk Creations Take Centre Stage in Global Celebration
Donna Fox, a silk-painting artist, received a special invitation to present her work at one of the world's largest New Year's parades. Representing the City of Westminster, her three magnificent costumes—Sunset Vision, Lunar Reflections, and Healing Garden—were performed along the route by Donna herself, alongside Alison Smith and Sandra Bynoe, with Miyah Fox-Taylor acting as steward.
The parade, watched by an estimated 300 million people via live streams, international news, and social media, saw thousands brave the bitter cold to line the streets of Piccadilly, Whitehall, the West End, and Westminster. Donna's costumes were presented alongside those of Helen Davenport and Mary Martin to represent Westminster.
A Journey from Derby to the World Stage
These stunning costumes are no strangers to British audiences. All three have previously featured in the Derby Caribbean Carnival and have toured extensively across the UK. Their journey includes appearances at the Edinburgh Festival International Carnival, Surtal Arts Season of Light lantern parade, Luton International Carnival, and events in Bridgewater, Nottingham, Northampton, and the Isle of Wight Mardi Gras.
The costumes have prestigious origins: two were commissioned by Ansel Wong for Notting Hill, and one was created for the Go Festival Gainsborough, which was funded by the Arts Council. The artistic process involved Donna designing and painting the silk using the hot wax batik technique. She was supported by a dedicated local team including Lia Fox Griffiths, Miyah Fox-Taylor, and Eva Gregory, who co-designed and painted many elements. The construction was handled by Iola Weir.
Community Roots and Future Ambitions
Reflecting on the experience, Donna Fox said: "It was a real honour to be invited to present my carnival creations on an international stage. I have developed growing partnerships with carnival makers and producers in London, Elimu Mas Academy, Westminster City Council, and Notting Hill. Miyah and I loved starting our 2026 representing Westminster." She added that the parade was smooth, with wide streets allowing plenty of room to dance, and that the audience warmly appreciated their efforts.
Donna's work is deeply rooted in her community. She and her team have been mentored by Kinetika as part of past Arts Council projects. Beyond carnival, she delivers silk painting batik workshops and commissions for organisations like the Lilian Prime MS activity centre in Derby, AirArts for NHS staff and patients at Royal Derby and Burton Hospital, and the Hospital Museum. She regularly collaborates with local associate artists and volunteers.
This remarkable showcase on a global platform underscores the national and international appeal of locally nurtured talent, putting Derby's vibrant artistic community firmly in the spotlight.
