Sarah
Roche
ART IN FELT
Scalebar Force - Malhamdale
A finer Art in Felt...
Waterfalls around Malhamdale in North Yorkshire
Last year I had the great pleasure of being invited to join a very special exhibition at St Michael's Church in Kirby Malham. The theme was broad but the space in which I was to place my pieces was not - the pillars running the length of the centre aisle of the church. After giving it some thought, inspiration came - the spectacular waterfalls of Malhamdale. would suit the space perfectly...
The art of felting was about to become a great deal more challenging though - how to portray water with wool? After a great deal of experimentation, not always successful, but at least taking me forward, I found a way of manipulating the wool that allowed me to show the falls in spate as well as gently trickling - whilst wool shrinks silk doesn't, giving just the effect I was after. I couldn't have been happier with the results... But see what you think!
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I'm delighted to have been asked back for this year's event which will run from the 1st through to the 9th July and am well under way with my new pieces...
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Gordale Scar- Malhamdale
Rylstone Cross
a little bit ...
about me
I’ve always enjoyed creating things, and found my medium when I moved to the Yorkshire Dales where, inspired by the beautiful surroundings, I’ve come to enjoy the process of wet felting, effectively using wool to ‘paint’. I work intuitively, laying Merino wool tops and Blue-faced Leicester curls to imitate something of the landscape and the mood of this wonderful part of the world. Every piece is unique – I couldn’t replicate them even if I wanted to!
A Muker Meadow - Swaledale
That was the year ... 2022
So many exciting developments and collaborations throughout this year I hardly know where to start...!
As well as my involvement with Art in the Dale at Kirby Malham, I participated in my first ever North Yorkshire Open Studio Event. Aside from being a chance to show my work in my own space it was a great opportunity to meet so many of you working away on your own projects - the talent and diversity out there was so inspiring! And I'm very excited to be involved in this again this year...
Hot on the heels of NYOS was a collaboration with fellow artist Bev Parker of cumbye.arts@gmail.com to present 'On Hoof thru' Hawthorn' at Mill Bridge Gallery. My focus was on one an iconic aspect of the Yorkshire landscape that I absolutely love - the humble Hawthorn...
And finally the year was topped off with having a feature in the November edition of Living North magazine ...
Summer's Bounty
Where you can see my latest work...
North Yorkshire Open Studios
Friday 2nd June - Sunday 11th June (weekdays by appointment only) I'll be taking part in the first of two North Yorkshire Open Studios events. Click on the link to have a look at all of the amazing artists who will be opening their studios up to visitors over two consecutive weekends!
SOTA Gallery, Witney, Oxfordshire
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I'm really excited to be exhibiting for the first time outside of North Yorkshire at this diverse little gallery in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Art in the Dale, St Michael's Church, Kirby Malham
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Following the roaring success of this event last year I'll be joining a group of very local artists with many new pieces created especially.
Mill Bridge Fine Art Gallery, Skipton
Recently relaunched with a fantastic collection of art across a mix of media.
Spring Hawthorn on a Blustery Day
Spencer House Gallery, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
... And participating in another exhibition further afield - wonderful to be showing work in this beautiful gallery so close to His Majesty, King Charles III's Highgrove Estate, in the year of his Coronation. I hear he has been seen in the High Street so who knows, maybe he'll pop in for a look!
