Arts & Crafts

from Shire Magazine November-December 2022

by Superstar Publishing

Gardening

AFONWEN CRAFTS

4th November, Weaving with Trevor Blackburn

Trevor will be busy adding to his wonderfully warm and cosy garments, made from wool, alpaca and camel.

8th & 9th November, Spinning by Jenni

Frost Jenni’s own fl ock provide the wool for her lovely hand-spun items. Pop along and watch as she works.

10th November, Sunnyside Crafts

and Gifts Linda’s handmade gifts include wooden stools, memory boxes, crochet dolls and some sea glass pieces.

12th & 13th November, Gill

Benjamin Local artist Gill has some interesting work on display and can take commissions.

16th November, Crafty Sisters

The duo will be working on their striking jewellery, and also sell handmade cards and tote bags.

19th & 20th November, Marie at

Earth Deva Marie designs and makes mythical fi gures, silk and gemstone jewellery and more.

24th & 25th November, Elaine at

Cherry Bea and Liz Elaine makes bead and stone jewellery and also knits bear outfi ts. Liz makes bags and stitchwork in rich fabrics.

3rd & 4th December, Thelma

Evans Local artist Thelma paints pretty fl oral canvases, and is happy to chat and take commissions.

6th-9th December, Jackie at

Jewels The perfect gifts – and Jackie also o ers a repair service for your own treasured pieces.

16th December, Tracey Davies

Tracey paints from photos and is happy to discuss your own ideas to keep precious memories alive.

22nd & 23rd December, Eco Silver Jewellery by Sandra

Roberts Watch Sandra at work and buy one of her unique pieces.

HOMING INSTINCT

Phil Jackson has been painting scenes from the Shire area for many years – yet he still fi nds his greatest inspiration in the natural beauty of the Wirral and North Wales

Artist Phil: nature fuels his creative energy, he says

Phil Jackson is a well-known name on the local art scene, with regular exhibitions at galleries across the Shire patch including the Williamson Gallery, Birkenhead and the Royal Cambrian Academy. He is also an active member of the Wirral Society of Arts and North Wales Society of Fine Art. Phil has dedicated his life to his painting, and works from his studio in Abergele, as well as out and about around North Wales.

What motivates him, he says, is the desire to capture the light of a setting, and landscapes are his usual subject, with the occasional foray into wildlife. He has been attending life-drawing classes for the past 27 years.

On the doorstep

“Refl ections in water are a speciality of Phil never tires of the views in his favourite locations. “My fresh-air fix has always mine. I work during been the Wirral estuary, and daylight so that my feelings of immense calm

I can achieve the are always greatest at Rivacre correct tones, colours and shadows.” Valley. Also Snowdonia – my spirits are lifted when I visit this country’s first national park and my creative energies re-emerge. Added to that is, of course, North Wales – home of my studio and my creative melting pot, the place where all my ideas come to life.”

Early yearnings

“I began to be seriously interested in drawing and painting at the age of 12, after the death of my father. Later I studied Art at South Cheshire College and Halton College of Art and Design, where I had two successful years. I gained a BTech Diploma with distinctions and was offered a place at John Moores University, but I had to decline due to family pressure. Painting has been my saviour as we lost our son in 2003 and our daughter last year to leukodystrophy, a brain disease.”

Phil has continued to paint and has amassed a vast array of pieces depicting the simple beauty of the area – woodlands, mountains, streams and changing seasons, all captured in perfect detail with the weather and light conditions playing an important part, as he explains.

“My passion is light. My mood is lifted when I see a beautiful scene, especially when the light is strong. It creates an emotional response in me. The subject matter is important, but not as important as the light. Sometimes, if there’s a more subtle light, I try to emphasise the atmosphere. Reflections in water are a speciality of mine. I work during daylight, so that I can achieve the correct tones, colours and shadows.”

Phil’s work can be viewed at Galeri Betws-y-Coed galeribetwsycoed.co.uk – and keep an eye on exhibitions coming to Oriel Ynys Mon in the New Year at orielmon.org

In the zone

One Welsh art gallery has developed into a vital community space, o ering an outlet for creativity through hands-on experiences

Intended as a tonic for the soul, the free Workshops for Wellness series at Newtown’s Oriel Davies gallery is described as “mindful experiences for adults” – and the forthcoming spoon-carving experience is just one example. Working with one of nature’s most useful materials, you can learn how to shape, hollow and finish your work in the peaceful natural environment of rural Powys.

Opportunities for all

The session starts with identifying suitable woods and safe use of the axe and knives, and moves on to designing and carving your own butter knife and then a simple but useful spoon. Under the guidance of master spoon carver Graham Beadle, experience the ‘spoon zone’ – the place many carvers enter as they lose themselves into the craft.

No previous experience is needed, all abilities are welcome. The next series runs from 4th November-9th December, on Fridays at 1-4pm, and participants can book in advance for all six workshops or attend individual sessions. The gallery will provide outdoor seating and a drink. Please get in touch with Kate at kate@orieldavies.org to discuss access requirements.

Craftsman Graham Beadle

Investment in the arts

Currently celebrating its 40th year, Oriel Davies is one of Wales’ key public art galleries and a designated ‘development gallery’, presenting world-class, thought-provoking and challenging art by national and international artists. It is named in recognition of Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, Wales’ greatest art collectors and benefactors, and over a number of years has benefitted from a £1.7 million capital development programme. Phase Two, in 2004, created an enlarged second exhibition space, an education room and resource area. The foyer was doubled to provide a shop and a café patio was created. The architectural design by B3Burgess heightens its visibility through polished stainless-steel fascias and retains the modernist lines and beautiful natural light of the original building. It provides uncluttered, flexible spaces ideal for the display of contemporary art, while the double entrance serves as an open and informal hub for easy Work peacefully in nature circulation and excellent access.

Liver Sketching Club’s 150th Anniversary, Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead. 9th November-17th December.

A year of events marking the Liver Sketching Club’s milestone anniversary culminate in this historical exhibition featuring work by members past and present, along with archive material documenting the club’s long history. The society, which has survived two World Wars, two depressions, two global pandemics and several skirmishes with insolvency, was founded on 11 May 1872 by Samuel Burkinshaw, art master at Liverpool Collegiate, and 10 of his students. Its studio is now in one of the most iconic buildings in Liverpool, Oriel Chambers, built by Peter Ellis in 1864.

‘Growing Together’: an exhibition celebrating creativity, Ty Pawb, Wrexham. Until 7th January 2023.

The Ty Pawb Open Exhibition features works by over 150 artists from across the country, working in a range of mediums including paint, print and sculpture. Over 220 artists submitted more than 600 artworks for consideration. The Judge’s Prize winner will be selected by our guest judge, artist Harold O eh. The People’s Prize will be chosen via a public vote, with the winner announced in January.

‘Inspired by Lady Lever’, The Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight, Wirral. Until 29th January 2023.

Celebrating 100 years of the gallery and the life of the woman it was named for. Elizabeth Lever was a support and inspiration to her husband William (Lord Leverhulme) throughout the development of his business, Lever Brothers, and the building of the village of Port Sunlight. Although Lever named the gallery after his wife, who died in 1913, there is little in the gallery about Elizabeth herself. A recent rediscovery in the store of a court dress belonging to Elizabeth has provided the opportunity to exhibit this personal piece of history and to shed more light on her story.

Helen Yardley: Drawings for Floors, Ruthin Craft Centre. Until 8th

January 2023 To mark the start of a celebration of four decades of design practice, Helen Yardley brings her bold and colourful rugs and wall hangings to all three galleries at Ruthin Craft Centre. Helen established her studio in London in 1983, having studied textile design at the Royal College of Art. This solo exhibition refl ects on the artist’s distinctive and innovative style, combining classic archive pieces and new, unseen designs for 2022. A perspective on her creative process will occupy one gallery, where a fi lm conversation and excerpts of studio life will be shown next to drawings, sketchbook ideas, yarn tufts and ephemera.

Helen says: “I approach making rugs as if they were large drawings for the fl oor; a form of practical artwork. Starting with small gouache paintings, the shapes are re-occuring motifs, which carry underlying meaning. Many forms of visual and emotional experience fi lter into these drawings, so although the work may be seen as abstract, it is far from it. In translating these paintings into rugs the presence of the human hand is crucial and retaining dynamic energy epitomises, for me, the essence of the hand made.

The chance to show at Ruthin Craft Centre is of special signifi cance to Helen because of family ties to the area. Her mother was born and raised in Ruthin, and Helen was christened in St Peter’s and spent happy holidays here.

PHOTO COMPETITION

ank you to everyone who submitted pictures for our competition on the theme of Food and Feasts – just looking at them made us all hungry here at Shire! You certainly rose to the challenge with some fabulous images, some of which we have featured on this page. Don’t worry if yours didn’t make it into print, because as always we’ve another opportunity for you to star in our next issue! We know how much you enjoy the wonderful surroundings on the doorstep, so we’re challenging you to get out and about and celebrate the changing colours and scenery. See what you can nd to inspire you on the subject of Seasonal Scenes – anything from an autumn leaf to a winter wonderland. Send your entries to editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk – and best of luck!