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

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!

14 houses and over 100 artists and makers

Although the event this year has moved from autumn to spring the ingredients remain the same; 14 of the historic Saltaire village homes and the majestic Victoria Hall open their doors to the public, whilst playing host to exhibitions by more than 100 Yorkshire-based artists, some with established names at a national level, others who remain, for the minute, local treasures, displaying a range of art works.

Over the next few months leading up to the arts trail we will publish more information about our planned events and profiles on featured artists.  In the meantime make sure you have the dates in your diary -  28-30 May 2011 - this is one event you don't want to miss!

Saltaire Arts Trail Co-ordinator needed!

We're currently on the lookout for a new member of the Arts Trail team, to co-ordinate the project leads and help deliver another memorable event in 2011.

This is a paid position on a fixed term contract, and will involve working part time, including evenings and weekends.

For more details, including a full job spec and how to apply, simply click here.

If you have any questions about the role, send an email to hello@saltaireartstrail.co.uk and we'll be in touch.

Good luck!