The Art Workers’ Guild
The Art Workers’ Guild
Vicki Ambery-Smith
A display of tiny flora and fauna sculptures and framed artwork, made from a combination of textile and millinery techniques and materials used in delicate and surprising ways, to make plants and insects inspired by allotment gardening. Bridget will demonstrate making blades of grass using rolled abaca fibre, using a millinery technique that has been given a new context in Bridget’s artworks and installations.
An experimental textile artist, Monica creates garments from cloth using different forms of print, creating wearable art. Her latest range of jackets are made using a cotton drill drop cloth capturing random ink and dye marks created during her printing process. She will be showing a range of cotton, digitally printed patterned jackets; and others which are hand printed originals. She will also be demonstrating one of the processes she uses.
Marianne draws and paints from observation, focusing on people working on North London building sites and landscapes in Italy and Holland. Her work has echoes of the Japanese woodcut artists. Her prints will be on display, along with drawings, photographs and objects that have inspired her. She will be demonstrating aspects of the print process using some of the tools of her trade.
Mark will be exhibiting various calligrapher’s tools that aren’t seen too often: types of reed, types of quill, metal pointed pens and nibs dating back to the 1850s, and a variety of modern writing tools. Also on show will be some samples of quill cutting knives and writing surfaces including parchment and vellum. He will be demonstrating writing with these tools and showing the intricacies of quill cutting.
Ruth creates limited edition hand printed artist books, small games, curios and greetings cards all in the same illustrative style. Her books are printed with hand carved rubber stamps. She will demonstrate the process of creating an artist book, carving the rubber stamps and printing with them, and finally putting an artist book together.
Joyce’s exquisite embroidery reinvents the art of Bargello. Her diverse collection of hand-stitched, luminously colourful pieces, includes vibrant wall hangings and reworked antique furniture, splendid silk cushions, unique purses and handbags. All are stitched in 100% silk threads. Her collection creates an amazing complex and intense works of art.
Hand-printed decorative papers can be used for many purposes, from bookbinding to shelf lining. Llewellyn also makes ‘memory boxes’, covered inside and out with his eye-catching patterns, and will demonstrate the techniques he uses. He will also show his wood engravings and etchings.
Carolyn will be exhibiting and demonstrating the making of hand-made woodcut Artists Books in varying sizes, including concertina books - some simple, others complex and with colourful hand-cut shapes. Also hand-cut hand-printed sets of tarot/playing cards, and ’cartoneras’ with woodcuts printed over newspaper articles on ecological themes.
