Arts and autumn in the Five Valleys

Arts and autumn in the Five Valleys

This year’s Autumn Arts Trail has been nothing short of fantabulous – a true feast for the eyes with artists and makers throughout Stroud and the Five Valleys exhibiting their work.  We were thrilled to see so many of the artists who work with us Handmade In. UK  as part of this event which spanned two weekends during October.

 Sarah Middleton’s beautiful water colour landscapes were on display at the Painswick Centre.  Inspired by the natural landscape of the Cotswolds and capturing the movement of light across the gentle hills and valleys of the area, these paintings have an ethereal quality, each with their own story drawn in Sarah’s minimal brush strokes. Painter Hannah Linfoot’s beautiful paintings were on display in studio 7 at Three Storeys in Nailsworth.  Her recent paintings offer a pallet of rich colour to the canvas capturing freshly dug vegetables and kitchen table flowers in their glorious vibrancy. Lizzie Mabley’s bright and bold fabrics were a centre piece of the open studios at Victoria Works in Chalford. Prints capturing the history of the industrial past of the mill in which the studios are housed and the flora of the surrounding area, made up new work, as did a jaw-dropping gown printed with Lizzie’s florals and bees!

These three were amongst a host of artists and makers who live and work in Stroud and the Five Valleys, an area synonymous with the arts and creativity. This area is both generous and supportive of a creative life with its endless inspiration through the beauty of the natural world all around, and an atmosphere of deep respect, admiration and encouragement for artists and artisans. Long may this continue!