Arts

from Shire Magazine July-August 2022

Fashion

Arts&Crafts A bright idea

Artist and creator Ros Freeborn has combined her delicate paper collages with practical lighting solutions and the result is a range of quirky lampshades depicting local scenes

Altrincham born and bred, Ros Freeborn is a paper collage artist who has recently added to her collection with some new work depicting Chester and the Wirral – immortalised in lampshades that would be a talking point in any home. Ros explained how she came up with the arts and interiors collaboration after studying. She said: “I’ve always been an artist but I particularly loved working with paper. While I was a student at City & Guilds of London Art School I had a garret studio space of my own and spent hours exploring ways of using paper in an imaginative and creative way. I love the look and feel of paper and delight in its amazing versatility. Having learned how to paint in oils I started working entirely in paper, using thousands of fragments of paper-like strokes or blobs of paint. I now use a variety of tissue, wallpaper, wrapping paper, packaging and pages of magazines to make my art.”

The combination of colours, prints and textures give Ros the unique and intriguing lampshades that led to the establishment of her business, Papershades. She said: “I wanted to find a way to make my art available beyond a work on canvas. The concept may sound simple but it’s taken a while for the idea to develop. The result came straight from my imagination. It is art on a stick! I set up Papershades about five years ago – the paper lampshades come as a flatpack and cost £35. They arrive in an A4 envelope and are easy to assemble at home.”

Spot the icons on the London lampshade Ros with the Cheshire shade All things Cheshire The latest additions to Ros’s range include a paper collage impression of the Wirral as well as one of Cheshire. She said: “I’ve referenced the city of Chester, and the rivers, bridges, canals that adorn the landscape of Cheshire; I’ve also popped in a grinning Cheshire Cat and a wedge of Cheshire cheese!” Ros has also been running Papershades “I’ve popped in workshops based at a new crafts hub in Sandiway, Cheshire called Toolerstone, and is looking a grinning forward to arranging more hands-on events in Cheshire Cat the near future, inspiring fellow artists to try and a wedge of Cheshire cheese!” something new. She said: “Inspired by the Toolerstone garden I enjoyed showing people how to print directly from foliage onto tissue paper and then use the printed paper to create their own collage design. The designs were then printed on the spot and everyone went home with a beautiful and totally original paper lampshade.” See more of Ros’s work at www.papershades.co.uk or look out for future craft courses at www.toolerstone.co.uk

The shades are supplied as self-assembly kits

Art for all

A social enterprise that promotes disabled artists – including several from Wales – has been enjoying success in selling their artwork around the globe

Ceridwen Powell at work Greenscape and Earthscape

Art Rabble is the brainchild of Lisa Lim, who is passionate about bringing the work of under-represented artists to the world stage. And the website has certainly succeeded in doing that for Ceridwen Powell from Montgomeryshire, who is enjoying international recognition as a result.

Ceridwen is one of many artists brought together under the Art Rabble umbrella. Lisa explained: “I run a social enterprise that enables disabled artists to sell their work internationally, and a number of my artists live in Wales, mid-Wales in particular. The work they are producing is really impressive and it is a really positive and upbeat initiative.

“The aim of Art Rabble is to break down barriers and celebrate the skills of disabled artists. Disabled artists are under-represented in the mainstream art world so we want to bring a breath of fresh air into people’s homes, add some flair and inspiration to their walls. The artists’ stories are absolutely captivating and bring the artworks to life – these are pieces that are intended to be shared, talked about and celebrated. The artists receive 50 per cent of the profit from each sale, helping to build their confidence and giving them some financial independence.”

Isolated System IV

Emotional expression

Ceridwen came to art in her twenties, when using a mental health day hospital, and found the experience both cathartic and joyful. Encouraged by her friends, she realised that art could help her explore her feelings, and provide a purpose and source of confidence. She now lives in Montgomeryshire, where she wonders at the beauty of her surroundings and tries to incorporate the colours she sees in the landscape into her artwork. She hasn’t the space for her own studio but can often be found in the corner of her living room, listening to music, coffee in hand, painting. Her style is mostly nonrepresentational; she does not draw objects or scenes from life, instead her paintings are a complex web of emotional expression. They are often focused upon issues around her disability, and her responses to these experiences. In this way, Ceridwen’s notes on each piece give a rare and illuminating glimpse into her reality as a disabled artist.

Ceridwen is always very pleased to sell her artwork as she feels that it means her work has ‘spoken’ to someone else. She takes great pride in creating this connection and is really touched to know her work is enjoyed.

See more of Ceridwen’s work, or that of the other artists featured, at art-rabble.org

2nd & 3rd July, Thelma Evans

Local artist Thelma paints on canvas – pretty fl oral scenes, plus places of interest, land and seascapes.

7th & 8th July, Tracey Davies

Tracey paints in watercolour and acrylic in a very fl uid, relaxed and modern style, specialising in portraits and pet portraits from photographs.

21st & 22nd July, Elaine at Cherry

Bea and Liz Elaine makes jewellery and accessories, plus some cute teddies in hand-knitted outfi ts. Liz creates bags in wonderful fabrics, with eye-catching embellishments.

28th & 29th July, Sunnyside

Crafts Linda has some great gift items, including wooden boxes and stools, sea glass and other handmade items, plus crochet dolls in sweet outfi ts.

6th & 7th Augus, Eco Silver Jewellery by Sandra Roberts

Sandra makes much of her jewellery in her workshop, using reclaimed silver from the jewellery industry, which she cuts, twists and hammers to create her unique pieces.

9th & 10th August, Spinning Masterclass with Jenni Frost

Jenni has some beautiful hand-spun items, using wool from her own fl ock. She will be spinning on both days.

13th & 14th August, Marie at

Earth Deva Marie has many quirky gift items, plus some stunning artwork from her original designs. She also has silk and gemstone jewellery.

16th & 17th August, Jackie at

Jewels A longstanding artist here at the centre, Jackie crafts handmade jewellery, and runs a repair service for your own broken pieces.

19th August, Crafty Sisters

The ladies have some stunning handmade jewellery, plus greetings cards, tote bags and children’s hair slides.

20th & 21st August, Gill Benjamin Local artist Gill is always happy to stop and chat as she works on her paintings of places of interest and other subjects.

Afonwen Craft & Antique Centre is open 9am-5pm, Tues-Sun. For a full programme of visiting artists, see afonwen.co.uk

Russ Chester, Oriel Mon Gallery, Anglesey, 6th August18th September

Three-quarters of the paintings in Russ’s recent joint exhibition at Plas Glyn Y Weddw in Portmadog have sold, encouraging the three artists to organise a second show for this summer. Russ, whose paintings celebrate the Welsh landscape, is now preparing for a major solo exhibition at Oriel Mon from 6th August. “I will be showing 69 paintings so have lots of framing to do for it!” he said.

Russ studied art and photography at Newcastle upon Tyne College of Art & Technology before moving to Wales. He sells his work through galleries, exhibitions and online as well as undertaking commissions. He has collectors in Australia, Canada, France, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, South Africa and the USA as well as the UK.

Chester Cathedral, ‘Extraordinary Women: Images of Courage, Endurance and Defiance’, until 11th July

This moving, contemplative and emotionally charged photography exhibition presents the endurance and iron will of women in situations of war, poverty and hardship. Throughout his career, awardwinning photographer Tom Stoddart (1953-2021) showed us the remarkable resilience of people across the world. From his documentation of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the war in Lebanon, to portraying the HIV/ AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa, he spent his life capturing the human responses to extreme situations.

‘Extraordinary Women’ is his final collection and, along with the accompanying book, immortalises the dignity and defiance of women with Stoddart’s characteristic and uncompromising celebration of humanity.

COMPETITION

Thank you once again to everyone who submitted pictures for our last competition on the topic of Summer Fun. You certainly rose to the challenge once again with some fabulous images, some of which we have featured here. But don’t worry if your picture didn’t make it into print, because as always we have another opportunity for you to star in our upcoming issue! Let’s keep celebrating the summer season as long as we can – it’s so nice to see your bright and cheery photos – so our next topic gives you the chance to embrace the colours in nature all around us. Please send any images you are inspired to capture on the topic of Fantastic Flowers. Email them to us at editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk – and best of luck!

‘Where Dragons Lead’, Lower Gallery, Shropshire Museums’ Collections Centre, Ludlow, until 20th July

A quest to find the hidden and forgotten stories of the Clee Hills landscape, the centre is hosting an exhibition of artworks inspired by this community project and the museum’s collection. Three short films will be showing in the gallery to share dragon-themed music and tales.