Interview with Rachel Lucie-Johns

Rachel Lucie Johns is the jewellery designer behind Rachel Lucie Designs.  Her enchanting work has been seen in some very exciting places and she will be exhibiting in the Main Room of Victoria Hall throughout the Arts Trail. Rachel will be happy to talk to you about herself and her work in person this weekend but here's a sneaky preview into her inspiration and life.

Tell us about the work you do and the types of materials you use.

I make vintage-inspired silver jewellery using semi-precious stone beads, freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystal using wirework.I have also started to use gold-filled components in my designs.

Where do you produce your work? Does your working environment form part of the inspiration for your art?

I work from home, from a VERY tiny home office. My view is amazing across the valley in Hebden Bridge. This constantly inspires me and distracts me in equal measure! I do relish having my own, all be it small, space to work from, as I have 2 small children, and it's bliss being able to leave out unfinished work and tools etc without having to clear everything away every time I need to do something else. I do think when the kids are older, working in a creative environment like a studio space with other artists might be a good move, but currently this suites me as I can work around looking after the children and school pick-ups etc. I am the main carer, and we decided that if I could make my job work around them, that would be ideal.

 Is your art your main job? How did you get started?

Yes, designing and making jewellery is my main job, although involved in making this business    run is photography, photo editing, some basic web design work and marketing, which I do all of as well.

I got started when my youngest was about a year old and I had been a stay at home mum for about 4 years. I think lots of things converged to give me the drive to find something creative to do at that time. Being at home with 2 under 4's can certainly drive you to needing to do something for yourself! I got some birthday money in the spring of 2008 and decided to buy some handmade jewellery, but although there was some gorgeous pieces I found, I couldn't find something that was really me. As I looked around, my childhood love of beaded jewellery, silver and geology kind of entwined itself as I just got the urge to buy some beads and dive right in! I started getting ideas for jewellery for myself, but within a month I had decided I would do all I could to make it my career to design and make beaded jewellery! It sounds funny, but I had so many ideas, and lots of them were for jewellery that wasn't for me – my creativity was unleashed.

What work will you be exhibiting at the Saltaire Arts Trail?

I will be exhibiting some of all my current Summer jewellery collections, which are Songs of the Sea, Botanica, Forever Pearl, Vintage Wedding and Inspired.

Do you work in any other mediums besides the work you will be exhibiting at the Arts Trail?

I am only working in silver and gold-filled at the moment. I am enjoying photography as much as the jewellery making, but it's not something I have yet persued professionally as yet.

Where else can we see and buy your work?

Heart Gallery, Hebden Bridge,

Pyramid Gallery, York,

Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford,

soon to be at the Solo Gallery, Sheffield and Royal Exchange, Manchester

Online on my website www.rachellucie.co.uk and Etsy http://rachellucie.etsy.com also Notonthehighstreet too.

Tell us about your most exciting or memorable commission?

I was asked to make a Chanel-inspired necklace based on the one worn by Keira Knightly in the Coco Mademoiselle advert photograph. It's a real statement necklace with large pearls, opulent belcher chain and Swarovski crystal stars. I loved making it, and my client was really happy with it, she's worn it out a lot!

It's always a real honour to be asked to make something unique for a bride on her wedding day A lot of my pearl collection lends itself to weddings, but to make something the bride herself is wonderful. I have had some commissions for bespoke statement earrings, bracelets and necklaces so far.

What was it about the Saltaire Arts Trail that made you want to apply to exhibit?

It's a very prestigious event. I visited the Makers Fair a couple of years ago and really only dreamed I would be accepted. I went last year to visit and was asked by several people there why I hadn't applied, which was very flattering!

Have you participated or visited the Saltaire Arts Trail before? What is unique about it and how does it differ from other events?

The shear size of the event and the diversity of arts on display make it a real must for anyone to visit who loves to support handmade craft, and likes unique products. My only worry this year is that I won't be able to see everything at Victoria Hall properly!

Unfortunately I have never been able to go on the trail itself as I have always had the children with me, but I know it's a wonderful chance to see beautiful crafts in such gorgeous domestic settings. Saltaire is a world heritage site, and the houses are works of art themselves.

Could you leave us with one more interesting fact about yourself or your work?

I was lucky enough to be asked to take part in a Vogue editorial piece last April on pearl jewellery, which was an amazing honour. I also have some of my collection being used in a book trilogy coming out later this year, including I believe a picture of my necklace on the front cover.

Rachel Johns

mail@rachellucie.co.uk

www.rachellucie.co.uk

http://rachellucie.etsy.com

http://twitter.com/rachellucie

http://rachelluciejewellerydesigns.blogspot.com

An Interview with Laura Slater

Tell us about the work you do and the types of materials you use.

I produce hand-screen printed bespoke textile products, all inspired by the interaction of colour and pattern and the translation of drawing concepts onto cloth. All my prints come from hand made marks and development of hand made marks through CAD, I then take the process back out into a hand produced process, printing onto 100% linen with water based inks. All my products are hand made and finished.

Where do you produce your work? Does your working environment form part of the inspiration for your art?

I produce my work from my studio and print workshop at the Art House in Wakefield. I am very slowly outgrowing my studio as it has really become, part print workshop, creative space and stockroom. It’s very cosy, but an all round really inspiring environment, that is filled with lots of colour, drawing, mark-making, in amongst all the equipment that is!

Being part of a group studio like the Art House is also a very inspiring place to be in, as it is filled with such a wide variety of creative people all with different disciplines.

Is your art your main job? How did you get started?

I am a full time printed textile designer through my business Laura Slater Textiles. Alongside that I also work as a print technician, lecturer in Surface Design and as a creative educational practitioner at the new Hepworth Wakefield. I have vocationally trained in textiles since the age of 16, so I knew pretty early on that this was what I wanted to do. I then went on to do my degree and MA in Mixed Media Textiles at the Royal College of Art before setting up my business 3 years ago. Its really hard work, but thoroughly rewarding, I think you just have to be very dedicated and motivated!

What will you be exhibiting at the Saltaire Arts Trail?

I will be exhibiting a range of printed textile products including lighting, furnishings and upholstery pieces. I will also be selling lots of smaller, personal products to pick up and take away. I also work on a commission basis and sell fabric per metre too. I will be around at the Arts Trail if you have any questions about my print collections - you can find me at 2 Constance Street which is number 10 on the arts trail map.

Do you work in any other mediums besides the work you will be exhibiting at the Arts Trail?

I have recently worked in collaboration in translating my designs into bespoke hand tufted rugs with local rug designer and makers Area rugs. Collaboration is an important part of developing my print ideas, especially into products. I am also working with a product designer in producing some unique shaped lampshades and lighting and I would love to work with some ceramicists, so fell free to get in touch if you’re interested in working with a print designer!!

Where else can we see and buy your work?

There are a number of different ways you can buy my work, I stock with lots of shops and galleries, the most recent being the new Hepworth Wakefield gallery. I also have an online shop and stock with a number of online craft retailers too. You can find a list of all my stockists and a link to my online shop at my website:

http://www.lauraslater.co.uk/.

Tell us about your most exciting or memorable commission?

I work to commission regularly so it’s hard to pick, but I love working on large fabric commissions for people to use my fabrics on their vintage furniture pieces. The most interesting and exciting request I have had recently is to use my prints to upholster the inside of a vintage Citroen car that some one is renovating. I can’t wait to see how that commission develops!

What was it about the Saltaire Arts Trail that made you want to apply to exhibit?

I have exhibited at Saltaire Arts Trail now for the last 4 years and loved every trail. The Arts Trail is truly a fantastic, inspiring and creative event in an amazing location, supported and including the work of a wide variety of talented artists. Not only that, but the Arts Trail has really supported my development in selling my work and building relationships with lots of lovely people, from fellow artists to buyers.

Have you participated or visited the Saltaire Arts Trail before? What is unique about it and how does it differ from other events?

The Open Houses is a really unique idea, as you get to see artists work in the beautiful houses around Saltaire. The advantage of this is obviously you can be nosey and look at other people lovely homes as well as the art work it’s self.

As an artist I personally think exhibiting in this situation is also a really brilliant idea as people can get to see how art work might be able to fit into their home an living environments too.

Could you leave us with one more interesting fact about yourself or your work?

Yes I am soon to start running photographic screen printing workshops for textiles, throughout the summer.  I have just purchased an exposure unit as a new addition to my studio and am looking forward to launching my workshop program shortly. For more information please contact me on: laura@lauraslater.co.uk

http://www.lauraslater.co.uk/

laura@lauraslater.co.uk

Cherry Kino Programme for Mobile Cinema Announced!

Cherry Kino – Programme of Super8 films to be screened in the Mobile Cinema at the Saltaire Arts Trail THIS WEEKEND! Totally FREE.


Above: 'Every Four Frames' by Alberto Cabrera Bernal

Films will screen between 11am - 5pm this Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th, and Monday 30th May in the tiny mobile cinema which will be situated outside the Salts building of Shipley College, opposite Victoria Hall, in Saltaire (screening at the Cherry Kino Lab to be announced separately). On Saturday between 12 noon and 4pm there will also be a free workshop run by the 'Unravel' folks, whose project is making Britain's longest hand-painted film, one piece at a time.
PROGRAMME OF FILMS BELOW!

PROGRAMME 1: TO THE STREETS


Above: 'This is a test reel' by Matoula Eolou Gekko

Hotel La Mirage – dir. Maximilian Le Cain / Ireland & Greece / 2010 / 5 mins
A melancholy vision of cinema-as-mirage. ‘Hotel La Mirage’ simultaneously weaves and unravels a romantic reverie across the ruin of space and time.

Radl (Bike) – dir. Viktoria Schmid / Austria / 3 mins 19 secs
The bikeride to my darkroom captured with my Super8 camera. After riding the bike I developed the film by myself. My love for bikeriding and filmmaking coming together in these 3 minutes.

Red Road – dir. Arturo Almanza / Colombia / 2005 / 3 mins
‘Red Road’ is an experimental film made with negative Super 8 vision 2 (ASA 500) developed as cross process, which gives a positive with a violent red shift. The development is handmade and made by Kinolab Colombia.

This is a test reel – dir. Matoula Eolou Gekko / Greece / 2010 / 3 mins
On the 8th of April I went out in the main streets of Athens to test a new Super8 camera. I asked random strangers to hold captions I had prepared, therefore making their short portraits and transforming a small Super8 reel into a collective project. This was my own way of reacting to the fear and disappointment that had been created due to ‘the crisis’ that had just been announced in Greece. Super8 was the dream medium, the one that was in opposition to the TV, to the flux, and that allowed a space for encounters, just for a reel’s time.

In the Streets - dir. Robert Harris / USA / 2009 / 5 mins 40 secs
4th of July passions in Chinatown and Little Italy, NYC 1975.

Every Four Frames (Cada cuatro fotogramas) - dir. Alberto Cabrera Bernal / Spain / 2009 / 1 min
A film constructed from destruction with the piercing or perforation of its footage, the different fragments of selected archive images. Every four frames the film’s body is punctured, the holes revealing the cinematographic mechanism’s entrails: the screen and light.


PROGRAMME 2: ELEMENTAL


Above: 'Song before dying' by Pere Ginard & Laura Ginès

The Palm Tree Song Line – dir. Dagie Brundert / Germany / 2008 / 1 min 50 secs
Los Angeles and its palm trees. They are singable!

You Can Never Hurt Me – dir. Jon Perez / USA / 3 mins 30 secs
Like film, the canopies of trees are surfaces ravaged by light breaking through the cracks. Shot while continuously spinning on a single piece of Ektachrome, the film relieves the viewer from the representational aspect of photographing a forest. The trees persist in attracting our imaginations, creating a new vision for new eyes.

Untitled – dir. Elina Street / UK / 2011 / 2 mins 40 secs
My first Super8 film, which I recently completed. My film aims to be interpreted freely, themes may be: the representation of women in film, the mystery of the cameraman, the conscious and unconscious…

LOVE – dirs. Egidijus Praspaliauskas & Rasa Juskeviciute / Lithuania / 2002 / 3 mins 30 secs
Our Motto: let’s develop film under a tree
'Love' is a DEDICATION FOR A Dream Come True, A Heart Full Of Love, A Hug A Day Keeps The Meanies Away, A Love Story, A Piece Of My Heart, A Time or Love, All You Need Is Love, Addicted To Love, As Long As A Bunny Has A Tail, My Love For You Will Never Fail, Bit By The Love Bug, Boy Meets Girl, Bucket Of Kisses, Can't Buy Me Love, Can't Take My Eyes, Off Of You, Circle Of Love Is Never Ending, First Love, First Impressions, For All Eternity, From My Heart, Gimme A Kiss...

Canción última – dir. Dan Hildred / UK / 2010 / 3 mins 30 secs
‘Canción última’ is a very short tribute to the Spanish ‘goatherd poet’ Miguel Hernandez, shot on the centenary of his birth in his native Almeria, and features a reading by the Basque video artist Marta Luque. The film explores themes of decay and abandonment in the landscape.

Song Before Dying (Canción del antes de morir) - dirs. Pere Ginard & Laura Ginès / Spain / 2011 / 4 mins
A film about ghosts (or fools or mimes or butterflies) inspired by the mystique of St. John of the Cross. Performed with joy by Laboratorium.

Fishquay – Matt Sutcliffe / UK / 2011 / 4 mins 53 secs
´I must go down to the sea again´
Loosely based around two poems, ´Two Lighthouses´ by Julia Darling and ´Sea Fever´ by John Masefield, I originally shot my first super 8 film as an accompaniment to a piece of dance choreography. Using samples and rhythm´s from the North Sheilds Fish Quay as a base for the soundtrack, I tried to capture it´s contrasting atmospheres through both sound and colour. The outdated medium of super 8 seemed an appropriate choice when filming the Fishermans declining trade.

Preludio (Prelude) – Albert Alcoz / Spain / 2010 / 3 mins 20 secs
‘Preludio’ is a filmation of a landscape with a building during one evening. Using time lapse options, shutter speed solutions and different exposures, the film transforms one simple framing of the camera in many possible moving image solutions. Some organic changes done in front of the camera allow different representations of the people in the park, the walls of the building, the trees and the sky, the main elements of this minimalistic film.

Untitled [2] – dir. Nathan Cyprys / Canada / 2009 / 3 mins
This diptych Super8 film loop explores the singularity of two people’s relationship as well as the duality of the individual when disconnected from the other. The water each is submerged in plays between the comfort of its all encompassing warmth and the discomfort of its suffocation and the subjects’ nakedness. The actions performed by both subjects in this piece reflect a form of meditation where the subject’s counterpart is sorrowfully both remembered and forgotten. They are disconnected from each other in the framing and placement of the images, yet it is evident that both are in the same location. Their actions remain simple, creating a universality for this piece to be understood.


PROGRAMME 3: ALCHEMY


Above: 'De Luce 1: Vegetare' by Janis Crystal Lipzin

Monster – dir. Marta Daeuble / France / 2004 / 40 secs
Stop motion animation, pixellation technique, painting on paper. I aim to break the storyline in different levels of time, working outside the fixed cinema screen.

Colour Stream – dir. Ian Helliwell / UK / 2002 / 4 mins 45 secs
Flowing lights and colours are the focus of this abstract film shot with Super8 through a close-up lens. Homemade electronics provide the rhythmic soundtrack.

Magic Kingdom – dir. Stephanie Wuertz / USA / 3 mins 11 secs
Waves of neon unleash a sea of pastel visions drifting through the Magic Kingdom.

De Luce 1: Vegetare – dir. Janis Crystal Lipzin / USA / 2009 / 5 mins
This work delves deeply into experiments, expanding the realism of colour expression that original film allows. ‘De Luce’ extends beyond the Kodak palette of colour, by subjecting the film material to unique influences of pigmentation. Unfamiliar colour and light sweep into and literally illuminate vegetative subjects to supply visible evidence of a surreptitious conspiracy between the artist, her materials, and photochemical occurrences. This is an artisanal hand-made work shot entirely on Super8 film and hand-processed by the filmmaker.

Untitled - dir. Elsy Benitez / USA / 2010 / 3 mins

Solar Eyes – dir. Rosie Parsons / UK / 2011 / 2 mins 34 secs
An adventure in memory haunting the future.

Nightlight – dir. Dagie Brundert / Germany / 2009 / 2 mins 22 secs
Berlin lights in time-speed-machine; the gelatin layer of the film stained red.


Above: 'Nightlight' by Dagie Brundert

Check out the Cherry Kino blog here: http://www.cherrykino.blogspot.com

Interview with David Mawdsley

David Mawdsley is a designer and maker of contemporary furniture.  He runs his Skipton based company Mawdsley Williams with his wife Stephanie.  David will be exhibiting and demonstrating his work on the stage area of Victoria Hall and took part in our interview to tell us more about his stunning work.

Tell us about the work you do and the types of materials you use.

  

I design and make contemporary furniture that is comfortable to use and live with.  Natural forms, architectural shapes, unusual wood grain and decorative joint detailing influence my designs. 

European and North American hardwoods and where appropriate manufactured board and veneer are used to construct my furniture. I particularly enjoy using locally sourced timbers and pieces that have unusual grain patterning, this makes each piece of furniture unique and often gives my clients something to tell their friends. I recently made a coffee table using Burr Oak from Pickering and small amounts of Bog oak dated to approx 3500 BC from Norfolk. The Oak tree would have fallen into a marsh or bog and been preserved in a Norfolk field until fairly recently, Bog Oak is black in colour..

Most of the pieces of furniture I make are made to commission, each piece is designed and crafted with the client’s needs and wants in mind.  Through a process of thoughtful design, careful material selection and appropriate construction methods I create furniture that maintains its simplicity while creating a sense of intrigue.

My wife, Stephanie whose expertise is in fibre art often helps me with the designing, we are currently working together to produce decorative sculptural pieces and use Stephanie’s textile skill in ways other than for upholstery.  Inlaid work also forms part of our current focus.

Where do you produce your work? Does your working environment form part of the inspiration for your art?

I have my workshop in Gargrave near Skipton, I get inspiration from a range of areas, I like to incorporate curves into my work and natural form ,the human body as well as manufactured objects all help as starting points in the initial stages of developing a design.  I am fortunate to have my workshop in the heart of such beautiful countryside and will often go for a short walk along side the canal to think out a solution to a design problem 

Is your art your main job? How did you get started?

I have a passion for making furniture and was fortunate to study furniture design and making at Loughborough University and graduated in 1982. When I graduated  I worked as a cabinet maker for a couple of companies and taught Design Technology.

I moved to West Yorkshire in 1991 and taught at Stoney Lee Middle School, Cottingley and Oakbank School in Keighley. Six years ago my wife Stephanie and I established Mawdsley Williams where we design and make contemporary bespoke furniture to commission; we also have a range of semi bespoke pieces that clients can choose from. Russell our son has recently joined the business.

What work will you be exhibiting at the Saltaire Arts Trail?

I will be bringing a selection of my recent pieces of furniture including chairs small tables and cabinets. There will also be some smaller items such as Jewellery boxes, clocks and mirrors.

I will be bringing a small workbench and will be demonstrating a few techniques and will be pleased to discuss these techniques with visitors to the fair.

Do you work in any other mediums besides the work you will be exhibiting at the Arts Trail?

I think that it is important for designers to be able to communicate their ideas through drawing, I enjoy drawing, life drawing and I paint and use both oil and in watercolour, this is done mainly for my own personal enjoyment and I am not selling any of my drawings or paintings at the moment.

Where else can we see and buy your work?

I have recently completed a commission for chairs, benches and tables for use at the Mercer Art Gallery Harrogate.
I am taking part in the following events this year

• North Yorkshire Open studios 2011 the dates are 10,11,12 – 18,19 June
• I have a consol table exhibited in the Bradford Open Art Exhibition at Cartwright Hall Bradford
• The Great Yorkshire Show my stand will be in the Made in Yorkshire marquee.
• Art in the Pen 2011 Skipton 13,14 August 2011
• Celebration of Craftsmanship and Design, Cheltenham 20 -29 August 2011
• Autumn flower show Harrogate my stand will be in the Made in Yorkshire marquee.
• I will be exhibiting as a member of the Northern Contemporary Furniture Makers this Autumn at Tennant’s, Leyburn.
• Visitors are always welcome to call at my workshop in Gargrave but please phone first to make sure that I will be there ( 01756 748088) 

Tell us about your most exciting or memorable commission?

I have recently completed a commission for designing and making the furniture for the recently refurbished Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate. I was asked to design and make four pairs of chairs of different designs, two pairs of benches of different designs, a coffee table and a large side table. I made each piece of furniture by hand using locally sourced Ash, Oak, Brown Oak and Elm. I was fortunate to find the Elm which is now difficult to find in wide enough boards to make chair seats. I choose different colours and textures of the timber to complement each other. One of the chairs that I was particularly pleased with was made in Ash with a Brown Oak seat and small amounts of brown oak detailing.  The furniture is now in the gallery and provided for the visitors to use.

What was it about the Saltaire Arts Trail that made you want to apply to exhibit?

There are several reasons for applying to exhibit at the Saltaire Arts Trail

• Located in Saltaire, a unique and interesting village
• The event has a good reputation and was recommended to me by other makers
• A selection process requiring designers and makers only
• I enjoyed my previous visits to Saltaire.

Have you participated or visited the Saltaire Arts Trail before? What is unique about it and how does it differ from other events

I have not exhibited at the Saltaire Arts trail before and I am looking forward to the event. I came as a visitor a few years ago as a visitor and enjoyed a great day out talking to other makers and having the opportunity to see Saltaire and the open house idea is great.  Exhibiting with other artist and craftspeople is important to me; I enjoy their creativity and enthusiasm. Those exhibiting at the Saltaire Arts Trail have designed and made their own pieces and have a depth of understanding of their art or craft, this is important.

Could you leave us with one more interesting fact about yourself or your work?

 I enjoy walking in the Yorkshire Dales and my chair designs are named after the Dales where I have walked.

Thanks so much to David for talking to us, please visit the Makers' Fair on any of the three days to see him at work and talk to him about his craft.

Mawdsley Williams

Unit 1b Asquith Industrial Estate

Eshton Road

Gargrave

Skipton

North Yorkshire

BD23 3SE

Interview with Elizabeth Milner

Artist’s Name: Elizabeth Milner

Where Exhibiting: 5 William Henry Street

Tell us about your art practice, what kind of stuff do you do and what is your work about?

My practice combines elements of textile art, crafts, set-designing, prop-making, photography and critical analysis. Using the miniature setting as my stage, I create intriguing installations with an unsettling undertone.

What motivates you to be an artist?

I am constantly inspired by all varieties of exciting and engaging art and culture. The interesting ideas and debates that are formed in my own mind as a result of such stimulus leads me to reflect and produce work in my own way.

Tell us about other projects you are working on?

I am participating in a project called the Yorkshire Art Loop, I am awaiting the delivery of a piece of artwork on the 11th July, when I will have two weeks to respond and create my own piece which I will then post on to the next recipient. Also, I am currently the Audience Engagement Intern at South Square in Thornton, delivering events and workshops to the visitors of the South Square Centre. I also work at Pop Up art space in Bradford as a volunteer coordinator, furthering my career within the gallery sector.

How did you get started as an artist?

Whilst studying for a BA in Textiles and Fashion, I realised that the process of design didn’t provide me with enough stimulation. My work needed to be more critically engaging, so I began to tailor my practice towards a gallery environment by giving the work a third dimension and narrative.

What will you be exhibiting at the Saltaire Arts Trail?

A subtle and surprising installation that plays on voyeurism within the domestic environment, and the use of a home as an exhibiting space.

Have you participated or visited the Saltaire Arts Trail before? What did you think of our previous events?

I have visited the arts trail before and have always enjoyed the experience, so it is a privilege to now be taking part.

Could you leave us with one more interesting fact about yourself or your work?

I have a controlled obsession with art, fashion and culture magazines and other printed matter!

Interview with Leigh Shepherd

Leigh Shepherd is a contemporary jewellery designer. She is an extremely busy lady running her booming business and home but managed to find time to talk to us about her participation in the Makers' Fair.

Tell us about the work you do and the types of materials you use.

I have a passion for upcycling and collecting unusual papers so I have brought this together, along with some lovely resin to create my jewellery range. It's probably worth explaining here the difference between recycling and upcycling. Both terms refer to a way of reusing an item recycling is the process of reusing an item without changing its original form eg. melting down glass bottles to make bottles. Upcycling is another processes of reusing, but in this instance changing the purpose or use of the initial material and as a result adding value. I make pendants from wooden Scrabble pieces and mah jong tiles, brooches from draughts and domino pieces and earrings from sixpence pieces.

Where do you produce your work? Does your working environment form part of the inspiration for your art?

I'm based in Haworth, West Yorkshire, so not so far from Saltaire. Both my husband and I work from home which fits in really well with our lifestyle. Years back I aspired to a rented studio somewhere but working from home works so well! Our children are young so my working hours don't fit the usual 9 to 5. As my business has grown I've gone from working from a folding table in the lounge to converting a room into my workshop.

Is your art your main job? How did you get started?

I began selling my work in local galleries about three years ago. It’s in the last six months that it has become full time.

Where else can we see and buy your work?

I stock around 25 outlets nationally from the British Museum to the Isle of Lewis. One of the first galleries I approached to sell my work is right across the street from Victoria Hall. Art Parade has been selling my work for a good while now. Beverley, the owner, has been a huge support and has given me lots of advice and encouragement.

Have you participated or visited the Saltaire Arts Trail before? What is unique about it and how does it differ from other events?

This year will be the fourth time I have taken part in the Makers' Fair. It’s a fantastic event, Victoria Hall is a gorgeous venue! The thing that really makes this event stand out is the visitors, the Arts Trail has a great reputation so people come ready to find something new, they are interested in what we do and know they will find something special. Besides exhibiting we have often visited the Arts Trail as a family, the kids have a great time, in the past we have visited the Garden of Easels and fished in the knitted river - which to the uninitiated may sound strange but was great fun!

Thanks so much to Leigh, you can learn more about her work on her website Leigh Shepherd Designs. and meet her in person at the Makers' Fair in Victoria Hall on 28th, 29th and 30th May.

Interview with Clare Caulfield

Tell us about the work you do and the types of materials you use.

I am an artist and printmaker producing work that documents my travels to some of the world’s greatest cities.  My collection included images of Paris, Venice, New York, Rome, Prague, Sydney and Istanbul.  I paint using a variety of media: watercolour, acrylic, pen and pencil mostly on paper but sometimes on canvas too.  I also produce handmade prints, limited edition prints and signed handmade cards all taken from my paintings.

Where do you produce your work? Does your working environment form part of the inspiration for your art?

Working from my studio I produce my paintings, limited edition prints & cards.  I am a member of West Yorkshire Print Workshop in Mirfield.  Here I use their excellent printmaking facilities to make two different types of handmade prints – Screen prints and Drypoints.  Every print produced here is entirely made by hand therefore no two are exactly the same. I also teach the weekend screenprint courses.

Is your art your main job? How did you get started?

Yes, I am a full time artist.  To start with I concentrated on painting alone, the printmaking, limited edition prints and cards came later once I had become more established having my work stocked in a number of galleries and craft shops.

What will you be exhibiting at the Saltaire Arts Trail?

My limited edition prints and handmade cards depicting a range of images including:

• Skating in Central Park     
• View from Academia Bridge Venice
• Notre dame & Parisian Rooftops, and
• Throwing Coins in Trevi Fountain Rome

And closer to home, I will also be showing work based on the historic Shambles in York, the beautiful architecture to be found here in Saltaire and County Arcade Victoria Quarter in Leeds.  I will also have prints available of my recent work of Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay and Staithes.

Do you work in any other mediums besides the work you will be exhibiting at the Arts Trail?

I will be showing all the types of work I do at the ‘Open House’ event.

Where else can we see and buy your work?

Art Parade, Saltaire; Heart Gallery, Hebden Bridge; The Craft Centre & Design Gallery, Leeds; Royal Exchange Theatre Craft Shop, Manchester; Cambridge Contemporary Art; Opus Gallery, Ashbourne in Derbyshire which will be showing my solo exhibition of new paintings in JULY 2011

Tell us about your most exciting or memorable commission?

My most recent commission was to produce a painting of County Arcade in Leeds for a man who had just been given a new job in Oxford.  He met his wife whilst studying at Leeds University many years ago and they had lived here ever since so he wanted a special piece of work of Leeds to give to his wife as a memento.  They had seen my drypoint & chine-colle print entitled  ‘Shopping in County Arcade’ and so asked me to produce them a version of this image as a painting using watercolour and pencil. 

What was it about the Saltaire Arts Trail that made you want to apply to exhibit?

I moved to Saltaire just over a year ago and so it seemed like a great opportunity to once again be part of the Arts Trail again but this time not only as an exhibiting artist but also as a homeowner opening up my house as part of the trail!

Have you participated or visited the Saltaire Arts Trail before? What is unique about it and how does it differ from other events?

I have exhibited in the Saltaire Arts Trail since the beginning 5 years ago now each time showing my work in a different house within the village.  It’s a great opportunity for people to experience the wealth of creativity from many local artists and designers whilst also visiting this wonderful World Heritage Site and having a look inside a Titus Salt house at the same time!

Could you leave us with one more interesting fact about yourself or your work?

After graduating from Staffordshire University my first job was as an in-house designer for a children's fashion print studio in Shoreditch London.  I worked here for a couple of years producing designs for clients including Baby Gap, Monsoon, M&S and Donna Karan.  Whilst this was a great opportunity I decided I wanted to move back up to Yorkshire to set up by myself to enable me to develop my own paintings.  The first city I chose to visit for inspiration was Florence.  Opposite my hotel was a lovely boutique selling children’s clothes.  It was in that very shop that I found a little pair of red pyjamas with my design on them that I’d produced in the textile studio in London.  They were in my suitcase back home with me!