Having retired from a career in industry in 1994, Ann Parr decided to follow a more creative path. She attended City and Guilds courses with Pam Watts at Missenden Abbey, obtaining the City and Guilds Medal for Excellence in Machine Embroidery in 2000 and 2005. Ann became fascinated by the use of metals in embroidery. During her City and Guilds courses and inspired by work exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Ann's own work based on the Thomas Becket casket was exhibited there in 2001 and in 2005, an exquisite interpretation of an ancient chatelaine was also exhibited. She has exhibited and demonstrated widely.