This presentation explores my ongoing research and work for the 2021 British Textile Biennial, which examines the legacy of coal as both a material and a symbol of power, transformation, and inequity. Through A Portrait of Coal and Coal Seams, I map the intersections of geological, industrial, and personal histories, tracing the heat generated—both literal and metaphorical- to unearth stories of race and class hierarchies. Wherever coal was found, change followed; it left its mark on the land and defined this country—and the world—for decades to come. Coal symbolised time, and unlocking this geological time gave us the power to go fast and create beyond the limitations of man and animals. And so, Coal is the beginning of modern times. The theme of heat runs through my practice, where the slow, labour-intensive nature of hand embroidery mirrors the pressure and friction embedded in these histories. This meticulous process creates space to see, to reflect on time, and to consider the geological and cosmological systems we inhabit. While coal accelerated the world, my act of making is an attempt to slow it down. Using wool and cotton—materials deeply tied to the Industrial Revolution—I create intricate textile maps that weave together family histories with broader narratives of industrial and colonial exploitation. In this presentation, I will explore the symbolic and material “heat” of coal in shaping industrial and cultural landscapes. I will examine how the tactile language of textiles embodies these transformations and discuss the personal and political dimensions of migration, assimilation, and identity—each shaped by the heat of coal. I aim to demonstrate how artistic research can “turn up the heat” on questions of materiality, labour, and global connections.