The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire
ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, Southport PR8 1EJ
17th – 28th October 2023
By Martin Dawber
Specially selected for the quality and originality of their work, The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire is a co-operative of regional artisan crafters, designers and makers set up in 1986 dedicated to the vision, design and expertise that underpin the best in contemporary craftsmanship.
With a strong focus on exhibitions and showcasing the work of its members, since its inception, the Guild has always provided a support network for self-employed local professional creatives that represent the finest the North West has to offer.
Ceramicist Chris Hughes from Ainsdale said:
“We are a small group of artists who have worked together in the Guild for many years. The Guild has existed for over three decades with the main intention of organising exhibitions in the North-West of England to provide selling opportunities for the artists and an enjoyable experience for our visitors”.
With recent exhibitions ranging from The Atkinson in Southport, The Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool, the Lytham Heritage Centre and the Godfrey Pilkington Gallery in St Helens, the Guild prides itself in creating colourful, diverse and interesting exhibitions of high-class 2-D and 3-D art and craft.
That same proficiency and skill will be on show in Southport at the ArtHouse during October.
Following a long career in education and only making pots in his spare time, Chris, who is self-taught, now concentrates on his pottery from a purpose-built studio in his back garden: “My output is small as I hand build all my pots using pinching, coiling, slabbing and modelling techniques. I usually make bowls, bottles, plates, lamp-bases and clocks. My forms are often sharp edged and finely balanced, the bottle forms frequently twisting as they rise”.
Involvement in mountain walking and climbing has now become embedded in Chris’ creative process: “I use features from the landscape on my pots. Mountains, streams and beaches occur frequently and also weathered doors, windows and stone walls”.
Also with a background in teaching – she was employed as a lecturer in Fine Art and Calligraphy at Blackburn and Preston Colleges for thirty years – Pam Potter’s talent has made her no stranger to local audiences and her paintings have not only earned her many awards but has seen her skill at the easel exhibited in London, France and the USA. In 2002 she was one of four artists chosen to represent Preston at the Nimes Feria in France:
“I love texture and colour as well as mark making and enjoy both coastal and landscape as well as townscapes”.
Pam, who trained at The Harris Art College in Avenham in the 1960’s comes from a family of artists.
Her mother was part of the Manchester art scene and friendly with L.S.Lowry.
“I often paint using an upright format which I value for composition purposes as the eye follows up and down the canvas. My latest work shows further development of the coast, landscape or buildings using experimental techniques of mixed media and other materials on canvas as well as paper as in the one of Lewis beach where I incorporated sand and pebbles from the shoreline.”
After completing a degree in Graphic Design at Liverpool John Moores University, nature lover and fused glass artist, Ally Noble, previously spent over thirty years working as a computer artist and games project manager: “Once I stopped hands on drawing each day, I needed an outlet for my creativity and started working with glass – a medium I’ve always found fascinating. Initially I made leaded windows and small Tiffany foiled pieces. With the help of a grant from The Crafts Council I was able to buy a large kiln and increase the size and scope of my work. I have now been fusing glass for over 15 years”.
Originally from Wirral, moving house 8 years ago provided a studio alternative in an old summerhouse in her garden and the study of birds took over. Ally now makes numerous nature based pieces motivated by, amongst other things, birds, flowers, mackerel, leaves and landscapes: “the beauty of nature inspires me to create”.
Steve Hitchen DPAGB AFIAP, from Wigan, has continued in recent years to pursue his passion for photography particularly nature photography and in the last 12 months has travelled to inland Spain in pursuit of new images. Steve processes and prints his own images and presents them ready mounted. Last year two visits (in different seasons) to a Spanish nature reserve inspired his latest wild-life photographs.
He said:: “Previously an old shooting estate of some 25,000 acres it is now home to numerous birds and animals and boasts around 30 purpose build hides. These include some floating hides that allow you to get close to the subject down at water level”. A visit to a semi desert area of inland Spain just a few months ago allowed Steve to get up close and personal with Booted Eagles along with Hobby, Black and Red Kites amongst others.
Predominantly a textile artist, Sharon Shaul works across a wide range of natural wools and recycled materials: “Although I was brought up in a family of textile workers of various forms, I am mainly self taught. One of my earliest memories is when I visited a weaving mill in Yorkshire with my father to buy rolls of woollen cloth. I work from my home studio on top of a hill overlooking Darwen tower and surrounded by the East Lancashire moors. This is where most of my inspiration originates”.
Her current focus is experimenting with dyes and mixing colours to enhance the characteristic vibrancy in her work. Sharon has also been investigating the use of vegan and upcycled plant fibres. Although recently she has concentrated on longer term ‘one off’ projects, Sharon still enjoys fabricating a wide range of affordable gifts and accessories.
Artwork by The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire, which will also include ceramics by Christine Corhorn and silk painting by Paula Maxfield, will be on display at the ArtHouse, Eastbank Street from 17th – 28th October 2023. The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 10.00-15.00. Saturday 11.00-16.00.
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