Current Exhibition

Barbara Jepson

Barbara Jepson creates large floral pictures made from worked textiles. The backgrounds are done using the batik method; then motifs are stitched on to the surface using applique and hand stitching.

Barbara is part of the Manchester group Ten Plus Textiles who exhibited work at the national Knitting & Stitching shows last Autumn. She will be conducting a workshop on Batik methods on 28th April 2012 - apply to gallery to book.

Janette Phillips

Janette's aim is to capture the essence of her subject. Her fascination with the marks and traces she can make upon paper, board and canvas mens that her work, although having a fixed starting point becomes fluid and develops through the interraction between herself and the marks she is making. As a result representation becomes secondary to the painting's surface where tonal and compositional harmonies and tensions structure the final result.

Ken & Valerie Shelton

Ken and Valerie Shelton make all their work by hand; each piece is individually crafted in their Cheshire studio. Ken makes the pots from fine white earthenware. Pots thrown on the potter’s wheel are left to dry to a “leather hard” state and are then turned on the wheel, trimming away excess clay to produce the final shape and a smooth polished surface. Valerie decorates each piece with free-hand painting using ceramic colours; no transfers or guidelines are used so each piece is truly unique. A transparent glaze is applied over the colour and the pot is fired again in the kiln to over 1100°C.

Kate Bigland

Kate's aim is to interpret nature, drawing inspiration from flowers, still life, the landscape. Working here in oils she captures the glorious sumptuous nature of tulips and amarylis in full bloom.

John Mercer

John Mercer has been carving birds since he was 14 & has developed his own unique style. He is now an associate member of the Art & Craft Guild of Lancashire. The birds are carved in Lime and mounted on Mopani Root giving each one its individuality. The birds on display include a wren, kingfisher, gull , avocet, heron and owl.  

Katie Almond

Katie Almond is a designer maker who specialises in Ceramics and Paper. We have on display a delicious selection of her hand-painted porcelain jugs, cups, cake stands and brooches. Each piece is essentially a canvas for decoration and collage, Katie being inspired by nostalgia, old paper ephemera and vintage textiles.
Her collection uses elements from a different era alongside her own drawings, text and collage. She focuses on pattern and detail using mixed media to collage and juxtapose the found and made. The pieces represent unique precious items that explore nostalgic themes, scale and hand painted decoration, tapping into the current much loved vintage aesthetic