Meet The Maker – Andy Pointon

Andy Pointon - Graphic Designer

Andy is one of our local Graphic Designers; showcasing his varied work in Heart Gallery for over a year now. He is now also taking commissions for illustration, editorial and brand identity.

Green Hebden Bridge

His work always starts with a sketch. Doodles and drawings are then enhanced, using new technology, to create compositions that illustrate the world around us: landscapes, botany, architecture, fashion.

Heptonstall - one of a series of postcards Heart Gallery is now selling

Andy loves to create playful work, incorporating lots of colour and some humour: an antidote to the serious world in which we live.

40s Hebden - Andy also does a 50s Hebden design

There is a nod to the historic in his work but he likes to marry this with the new, encouraging the viewer to see things from a fresh perspective.

Pink Hebden

Hebden Bridge has been Andy’s home for seven years. What drew him to live here is its rich history, its beauty and its thriving culture today. Three manmade structures dominate the hills surrounding the town and look down on it like Tolkienesque protectors: The Parish Church of Heptonstall, the Old Town mill and Stoodley Pike, each with its own symbolic meaning.

Andy's new Hebden Bridge tea towel, exclusive to Heart Gallery

The trees that surround Hebden soften the steep sided valleys and on one side, in mediaeval times, were part of the Erringden deer park. The landscape remains a leisure attraction today, drawing walkers, cyclists and canal users. Hebden has a pretty hectic social calendar, two highlights being the Vintage Car Fair and the Duck Race. And of course, whatever the weather, the fantastic choice of independent shops, are a daytripper’s dream.

Andy uses all the things Hebden Bridge inspires him with in his work and this new tea towel is exclusive to Heart Gallery along with a canvas shopper printed in a choice of four colourways.

Another Hebden Bridge tea towel getting wrapped for an appreciative customer in Heart Gallery

Meet The Maker – Bev Milward

Bev Milward - Ceramicist

Bevs’ porcelain landscapes and figures are influenced by the environment in which she lives, personal events and experiences and also by the nature of the porcelain itself.

Small selection of Bev's work on display in Heart Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

She is concerned with how humour and sentimentality have been used historically in ceramics and aims to infuse emotion into each piece.

Little One And Stained Glass House

Although the work illustrates a personal journey it appeals to a much wider audience who can identify with the sentiments.  Each element or symbol has a history or a meaning and her maker’s mark, in the shape of a key, can be found somewhere on each piece. 

Couple With Bocage

 

Imagery and themes are reworked and revisited but no piece is repeated.  The last piece informs the next and evolves as a continuous visual diary.

Tree And Life

 

A sense of ambiguity is important and Bev is left with satisfaction when someone is able to bring their own interpretation to the work.

 

What More Could You Wish For?

 

Meet The Maker – Sarah Lawrence

Sarah Lawrence - Jeweller

Sarah is both excited and pleased to introduce her newest collection of jewellery entitled ‘Nearest & Dearest’ and Heart Gallery is proud to have been chosen by Sarah to be one of the first to showcase this bespoke collection.

Silver key - personalise yours

Each piece of jewellery is beautifully handcrafted in sterling silver and personalised with a name, word or date specific to each individual piece or person. The collection has taken inspiration from Sarah’s love of keys and locks, that each key or lock is unique and that they are used to protect those things that are dear to us.

Silver 21st key close up

General 18th key

Be Mine necklace

Each key or charm can commemorate a loved one’s name or special date, and more keys can be added to build up a collection or ‘bunch’ that are entirely individual to each owner.

Personalised 16th key - GRACIE

Personalised keys and padlock necklace - Sarah and Andrew 12.05.2001

Silver padlock and key charm bracelet

Personalised heart and key necklace - Love You Mummy

Sarah has always loved jewellery, raiding her Grandma’s jewellery box from a young age. She went on to study Jewellery Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Scotland, where she graduated with a Bdes (Hons) in 1997. After graduating Sarah worked for several years in the jewellery industry before starting her own jewellery business in 2001. Following the success of making jewellery for other shops and galleries, she opened her own shop in 2004 with Emma Jay, stocking her own work, Emma’s work and that of many other jewellers and craftspeople. 

Pink Butterfly - Farsley

After 8 years in retail and with a young family at home Sarah has now decided to hand over the reigns of the shop to Emma and concentrate on making her own jewellery again back at the work bench. This is what Sarah enjoys the most and she hopes this is reflected in her work, celebrating two of the things most important to her: jewellery and family.

YOU ME silver double heart necklace on rubber

Together Forever heart charm necklace

Secret riveted heart necklace - Emma You Rock My world

Sarah wears her silver keys with the names of her children and her wedding anniversary date on everyday. Personalised pieces tell a story and your story can be visible for the world to see or private – the choice is yours!

Key to my heart bangle - I ❤ Joe

Heart Gallery hopes that you enjoy your bespoke piece as much as Sarah enjoys making it and we enjoy giving it and that it brings you joy.

Meet The Maker – Corrina Rothwell

Right, let’s see…. this is a different approach to meet the maker because Corrina is a different kind of maker!!

Corrina Rothwell - Digital Artist and Illustrator

Let’s imagine a frog leaping from lily pad to lily pad.  Each lily pad represents an important stage on Corrina’s creative journey.  Plop, she is born (Rochdale, Lancs.)  (Being born is essential to creativity).  Plop, mum and dad plonk her naked on a roll of wallpaper with a paint brush and a pot of red paint.  She is very small.  Sadly she does not still have that first painting of hers!  Plop….you get the idea now…. she goes to school and draws a Mother’s Day card in felt-tips.  It’s a tree with millions of tiny pink flowers.  Corrina’s teacher sends her round school to show the other teachers and says she’s really gone to town on it.  Corrina draws and paints a lot but she’s not very good.  She does a special painting on a big board, lots of pattern and colour (see unnaturally-posed picture). 

Corrina and her rather large painting

Corrina is maybe 8 when she does this.  Her dad paints over it at some point, probably when he can’t afford any board for his own painting.  In later years he gives her some of his rejected paintings to paint over which makes it ok. At 13 Corrina’s best friend and her make bow-ties and sell them at school because sadly they are in fashion at the time. At 16 she starts A-level art along with French, German and English, but soon drops it thinking that she can do art on her own anytime and she doesn’t need to be taught.  An ardent vegetarian, she designs some MacDonalds Murder Burger t-shirts and sells them at Grass Roots in Manchester.  She also sells one to her history teacher which she’s extremely pleased about!

Mistakenly Corrina ends up doing European Studies with Dutch at Hull University.  She drops out because she hates it and she’s not an academic.  She goes on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme and paints fabric and makes it into cushions.  She also takes an evening class in screen-printing, which she loves, and produces her first greetings cards.

From there Corrina moves to Nottingham and buys herself an old Singer sewing machine. Plop. She trys a bit of freehand embroidery, feels right at home with it, and that’s what she does, mostly happily, for the next 14 years ….. although there was a ‘gosh that’s clever’ aspect to her textile work which made it appealing to people, it certainly lost its appeal to Corrina …plop…plop…plop

'she just couldn't behave herself with cheese' embroidery - Heart Gallery's best seller

Corrina gets really bored of sewing and frustrated with what it can’t do. She has in my mind a way that she wants her images to look and she can’t get them to look that way with the sewing machine. She realises that what is important to her is the image itself, not the way in which it’s created. Corrina thinks that maybe she’s a frustrated print-maker and contemplates going in that direction. However, a) she’s too impatient to learn b) the equipment is too expensive to buy and c) there’s nowhere in Nottingham where she can do it if she can’t do it at home. On a whim – plop – she buys herself a Bamboo Fun graphics tablet, plugs it into her laptop and she’s off! Corrina takes to it like a duck to water (we’re still in that pond) and finds it fun (does what it says on the tin) versatile and full of exciting potential.

Assumed Dead

So there you have it, Corrina is now working on new designs for her greetings cards which Heart Gallery sell and is sitting on her Nottingham lily pad which is going to flower beautifully this year with all the amazing opportunities coming her way.

Don't Mind Me

Corrina has a selection of prints in the clothing store Urban Outfitters in both Manchester and Kensington, which is very exciting – she loves the idea of artwork mingling with everydayness….and of course Urban Outfitters is a very cool shop!

Cross Dresser

As for new artwork, Corrina is in the throes of a pigeon obsession at the moment! 

Unexpected Item

Excited by how much fun it was importing photos of pigeons and giving them things to say, she went out with her camera, took lots of pigeon pics and a new batch of drawings was born.

Bit Of Ham

Corrina has used pigeons in her work before, but things came to a head when she designed the poster for the upcoming Secret Garden Craft Fair in Nottingham on Saturday 25^th June.

Sherwood Art Week

Corrina’s pigeon prints are on sale at the Phoenix Arts Centre in Leicester and will soon be available from her website and other outlets.

Still Don't Fancy U

Corrina is also looking forward to having an illustrated recipe printed in a new cookbook being published in the US in autumn, called They Draw and Cook

Butter

Corrina’s work always amuses Heart Gallery customers and her greetings card range is expanding so keep bobbing in to see more great designs. Her new range Dottie is published by Black Olive.

Apostrophe

Jugs

Fruit Bowl

Meet The Maker – Helen Russell (Mercury Arts)

Helen Russell - Ceramic Artist

Mercury Arts /mérkyoori/

1 Chemical The chemical symbol for Mercury is Hg, the initials of Designer-Maker Helen Russell’s maiden name

2 Material A silvery white heavy liquid element (a pretty good description of porcelain casting slip and silver jewellery components)

3 Mercurius god of traders (well a girl can dream when starting a business!)

And that’s how Mercury Arts was born.

Helen is generally inspired by the natural world and the way that man-made objects interact with the landscape. This might be the cut of a wooden fence into the surface of a reservoir or the layering of windswept ice against a stone wall.

Derwent Water - a great source of inspiration for Helen

Helen Russell - Water's Edge small bowl

Helen set up Mercury Arts in May 2010, started making in October 2010 and officially launched her work at the British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) in April 2011. A steep but immensely enjoyable learning curve for her!  I had met Helen prior to my regular visit to BCTF and yet it was still really refreshing to see her stand nestled there in the Newcomers as it stood out so well in the usual sea of silversmiths!

Part of Helen's BCTF stand in the Newcomers Section 2011

There are two sides to Helen’s work – delicate, understated and elegant ranges where the exploration of light and shadow is key to many of the ideas, and character artworks that allow her imagination to run riot. The common but silent element in all Helen’s work is storytelling. Every item made has a story behind it, from stacking pebbles on the beach as a little girl to the fat little robin that frequents her garden.

Framed Blob Birds Circling

Helen makes her own moulds and uses slip casting techniques to create forms or sheets of clay that can then be shaped and manipulated to create individual artworks.

Hand Carved Porcelain Shell Pendant

Her love of the natural world is often represented through abstracted patterns that are meticulously hand carved, painted or incised onto/into the basic form she’s working with. Some of the work is further enhanced through the use of glaze or surface finishes, and some pieces are fired ‘naked’ to maintain the earthiness of the material.

Porcelain Pebble River necklace

There are lots of ideas wedged in Helen’s head waiting to escape. Over the next 12 months she promises more vessels, more colour and maybe references to her love of flowers, social statistics and architecture – not in any particular order!

Helen Russell - The Great Escape

 

Pink Clover - could this be a clue to Helen's next collection?

Meet The Maker – Taisir Gibreel

Taisir Gibreel - Textile Artist

Taisir is a Textile designer specialised in Print and Weave. Taisir’s father was Sudanese and her mother is English. Having grown up in Sudan she moved to the UK at 17 and her work reflects her background; an eclectic cultural fusion of pattern and colour.

Silk scarf Autumn/Winter 2010 design

Taisir is inspired by narrative design, her prints always tell a story. Her Autumn/Winter collection was inspired by a brief “Scottish with a Twist” given to Taisir by Textile Designer Ingrid Tait. A fictional character ‘Dougal’s Dad’ was born; he took Taisir on a journey exploring rural and urban Scottish landscape. Taisir’s goal was to compare and contrast the imagery of Urban versus Rural Scotland. Through her research for the project she grew to love hill walking and managed to bag several Munroe’s over the summer. 

Silk scarf Autumn/Winter 2010 design

‘Dougal’s Dad’ has taken Taisir through a real journey of discovery across the highlands – offering an opportunity to reflect, gain clarity and appreciate nature.  It is an exciting, unpredictable and thoroughly fulfilling project exploring colour, pattern, print and texture.

Silk scarf Spring/Summer 2011 collection

Taisir’s collections of must-have luxurious ‘ Art to Wear’ fashion accessories celebrate colour, culture and diversity. All her designs are a combination of traditional drawings and contemporary techniques; an eclectic fusion of colour and pattern, creating bold prints.  As a designer, Taisir’s strengths are her sense of colour and pattern and her fearless approach to design; the designs are a mixture of rich, contrasting colours and prints that create striking textiles. 

Drawing great inspiration from the colours and shapes found in the highlands and the geometric shapes and structures found in the Scottish House of Parliament. Taisir’s designs are distinctive in their use of elaborate combinations of colour and pattern, creating bold and abstract designs. 

Silk scarf from Taisir's Spring/Summer much sought after 2011 collection available at Heart Gallery

Taisir’s design journey offers an opportunity to reflect, gain clarity and appreciate nature.  It is an exciting, unpredictable and thoroughly fulfilling project exploring colour, pattern, print and texture. Heart Gallery is proud to showcase Taisir’s results from her incredible journey.

Meet The Maker – Catherine Green

Catherine Green - Textile Artist

Catherine’s work incorporates print and stitch on beautifully tactile fabrics such as velvet and satin to create vibrant, tactile pieces.  She builds up layers of dye, both printed and painted, before using devoré techniques to remove the fabric surface to reveal the delicate silk beneath, creating an almost three dimensional effect. 

Catherine Green - Wilderness

 

 

 

 

 

Catherine works intuitively from her first point of reference and enjoys allowing the design to change and evolve as the piece progresses through each process.

Catherine Green - Carved Leaves III

Catherine takes her inspiration from the rural and urban areas around her studio in Yorkshire which appear to combine and contrast in perfect harmony; spiky grasses and seed heads set against a backdrop of a geometric cityscape alongside more rural landscapes inspired by the Yorkshire Dales and coastal pieces influenced by the dramatic East Coast. 

Catherine Green - Charcoal Carved Leaves

Each piece is created using strong colour ways which are intended to be striking and uplifting. 

Catherine Green Bright Pears

Catherine Green - Climbing

Catherine has recently had a series of pieces reproduced into greetings cards and giclée prints which are available at Heart Gallery along with framed originals.

Catherine Green - Violet Carved Leaves

Meet The Maker – Yasemin Wigglesworth

Yasemin Wigglesworth - Papercut Artist (check out the image in the background!)

Yasemin came across paper cutting a few years ago and has been fascinated by it ever since. 

'here is the root of the root' papercut

As a self-taught papercut artist, her work continues to develop in new and unexpected ways which Yasemin finds exciting. Finishing a complete papercut piece is hugely satisfying  and therapeutic. 

Blue Tree papercut

People always say, ‘You must be a very patient and precise person’.  Yasemin’s family would laugh at that; she is definitely very particular about her work and aesthetics but quite chaotic and disorderly in almost everything else. Having grown up with an artistic mother and grandfather, art has always played a big part in Yasemin’s life and she has always taken courses in her spare time. 

Meadow - Yasemin's image used for Heart Gallery's Summer Exhibition ART AT HEART

Heart Gallery ART AT HEART Invitation using Yasemin's Meadow image

Yasemin’s family home is full of interesting and beautiful art, antiques and pretty things that her parents have collected from around the world. Her biggest influences are nature, The Arts & Crafts movement, East Asian woodblock prints and tapestries, and having grown up in Istanbul, Iznic ceramic designs.

Proud Peacock papercut

Yasemin sketches designs in pencil first and experiments with rough cuts until she achieves a balanced piece. Yasemin tends to use wallpaper for her final cuts as the pattern adds an element of surprise. Each piece is cut by hand using a surgeon’s scalpel on the reverse of the wallpaper. She roughly sketches the design so she has a guide but never sticks to the pencil lines as she finds it too restricting. 

Positive Tree papercut

Some of Yasemin’s pieces are influenced by poems and a few lines are included. Words are cut freehand on the front of the wallpaper with no pencil outline as it marks the wallpaper.  Each papercut is entire and cut from one sheet of paper.

Wedding Anniversary commissioned papercut

Yasemin’s aim is to produce affordable, original, unpretentious framed pieces for people’s homes. Have you got a favourite roll of wallpaper you would like Yasemin to use to create a bespoke papercut just for you? Call in to Heart Gallery to discuss your requirements.

Peacock papercut

Yasemin is looking forward to dedicating more of her time to creating and papercutting once her two young sons are both at school from September and Heart Gallery is also looking forward to seeing more of Yasemin’s amazing creations.

Birds in a Tree papercut

Meet The Maker – Charlotte Brown

Charlotte Brown - Jeweller

Charlotte is one of Heart Gallery’s more local designer/makers working from her studio in West Yorkshire producing amazing work based around the theme of sentimentality.

MY LOVE IS LIKE A CABBAGE THAT I CUT IN TWO THE LEAVES I GAVE TO OTHERS THE HEART I GIVE TO YOU silver wrap bangle

Charlotte takes inspiration from the romantic connection people have with their jewellery and the memories each piece can evoke.

Oxidised silver FRIENDSHIP ring - text on the inside

Charlotte has been developing her collection since graudating from Sheffield Hallam University in 2005, and has now built an interesting and unique catalogue of designs.

FAITH HOPE LOVE small dome silver necklace

Working in silver and gold, Charlotte uses words of love and friendship alongside diamonds and pearls. Each piece is handcrafted using traditional jewellery tools and techniques making each piece unique.

LOVE & TRUST silver ring with 2mm Pink Sapphire

FAITH HOPE LOVE small silver dome on a string of white pearls

LOVE TRUST HAPPINESS silver and pearl ring

Heart Gallery loves that Charlotte’s collection uses sentimental poems and phrases, many taken from her Great Grandmother’s school leaving book written by well wishing friends, but we can incorporate personally chosen words into any of her designs where possible.

LOVE & LAUGHTER silver wedding band

Pieces are individually crafted using traditional jewellery making tools and techniques. Every letter is hand punched into the silver making pieces unique as you can decide to have the text on show or keep it secretly hidden on the inside of the ring or the back of the earrings!

LOVE YOU Oxidised silver earrings - text on reverse, LOVE on one earring YOU on the other

Heart Gallery is proud to showcase Charlotte’s romantic range and is happy to discuss your personal requirements with you to create that bespoke and individual piece that means something special to you the wearer or you the giver.

LOVE IS PATIENT LOVE IS KIND LOVE NEVER GIVES UP LOVE IS ETERNAL… large silver dome necklace

Meet The Maker – Jo Clarke

Jo Clarke - Maker of Gorgeous Accessories for you and your home

Jo is based in a quaint little village near Wetherby in West Yorkshire and it is here that she designs and makes her products.

Lollipop brooches with a hint of Swarovski sparkle and ribbon detail

Jo completed a BA Hons in Textile Design at Bradford College gaining a 2:1 and specialising in knitwear and embroidery.  She was lucky enough to be able to display a selection of her textile and embroidery work at New Designers in Islington, London.  Her work was selected by Drapers to be exhibited in one of their collections. This collection was also spotted by The Society of Designer Craftsman where Jo  joined their annual exhibition in The Mall Galleries in London.

Ornamental hand made cake with rose detail and a hint of Swarovski sparkle - this makes a fab paperweight

Jo wanted to pursue her love for accessories and gifts so she set off for Nottingham Trent University to complete a Master’s Degree in Fashion knitwear. It was here she learned to combine different materials and techniques and became fascinated by resin and silicone moulding. Jo very quickly learned how to cast her own moulds and create wearable accessories.

Looks good enough to eat! 100% fat free, suitable for vegans, vegetarians and the fashion conscious! Hand made brooch with swarovski crystal detail

Jo’s current collections are inspired by sweet treats, creamy chocolates and tasty desserts. She adores the bright and contrasting colours of sweeties next to the creamy subtle shades of handmade chocolate. 

Looks good enough to eat! 100% fat free, suitable for vegans, vegetarians and the fashion conscious! Hand made brooch

Jo wanted to create an everlasting pretty collection of gifts and accessories; similar to those in a French patisserie.  A collection called Le Faux Patisserie was born.

Hand made faux cupcake - make fantastic wedding place settings or favours

A collection of cupcakes and chocolates that can be enjoyed by everyone… but without the calories. Every item Jo makes is entirely made by her, by hand, from the original mould to the polishing of the final piece. 

Handmade faux cupcake - make fantastic wedding place settings or favours and can be colour co-ordinated to your scheme

Hand made faux cupcake - make fantastic wedding place settings or favours

Jo has a lot of fun making these treats and hopes that you enjoy them too. A full range is on display in Heart Gallery now and we are taking bespoke orders for weddings and parties.