The Harley Studios are creative spaces within the grounds of Welbeck Estate. Provided by The Harley Foundation, these tranquil, private studios are home to a community of designers, artists, makers and conservators. Many of the studios also run workshops where you can learn new skills, from textiles to ceramics.
Here we meet the creatives that are taking part in the 2022 Welbeck Winter Weekend Open Studio Event where visitors are invited to say hello to the creators and see behind the studio doors.
--
Free Natives
Clothing Design
Free Natives launched in September 2019 and is an organic GoTs certified clothing brand. They use foraged plant material, food waste and more to make natural dyes, which colour their clothes. The organic matter they dye with offers unique natural colour palettes different from anything industrial dyes can offer.
Their organic fabric is sourced from a sustainable family run farm and mill in Kerala, South India. Once the fabric arrives in England they dye, cut, sew and sample everything in-house.
Their mission is to offer accessible, quality clothing that does not have a negative impact on the planet.
www.freenatives.com
--
Hope & Elvis
Creative Workshops
Hope & Elvis was founded by Louise Presley in 2003. Louise had the vision to develop a home for creative workshops, showcasing and sharing the talent of many inspiring artists and makers from across the UK and Europe.
Today, Hope & Elvis is run by Louise Asher, who continues to programme creative workshops, inviting artists and makers including Mandy Pattullo, Jessie Chorley, Richard McVetis and Tilleke Schwarz.
When you visit Hope & Elvis you not only have the best artists and makers from around the UK and Europe, but you get a complete experience and the chance to explore and develop your own creativity with likeminded people; whether it be to add to your existing practice, to just try something new or for no reason at all.
www.hopeandelvis.com
--
Geoff Tinniswood
Piano Tuner Technician
Geoff Tinniswood is a piano restorer, repairer and tuner.
Geoff studied at the Newark School of Musical Instrument Craft and worked at piano firm John Broadwood & Sons. He has now branched out on his own, undertaking a range of projects from full restoration (including French polishing) to tuning and minor repairs.
Geoff is also an accomplished pianist.
www.geofftinniswood.co.uk
--
J A Alcock & Son
Clock Preservation & Restoration
J A Alcock & Son is run and operated by Ross Alcock MBHI. Ross is an award-winning horologist, who specialises in the conservation and restoration of fine antique clocks and domestic timepieces.
In addition to running a successful clock restoration and conservation business, Ross is a professional Member of the British Horological Institute (BHI) and takes an active part in the running of the BHI to ensure that it is there to support horologists and consumers alike for many more years to come.
www.sortyourclock.co.uk
--
Louise Presley
Artist and designer
Louise Presley is a gatherer of antique garments, vintage textiles and a rescuer of the random. Working solely with materials that are sensitive to the environment she makes one-off garments, accessories and artwork that have purpose and meaning. As a fashion designer in the eco-friendly 90’s her work is grounded by ethical values. She employs traditional skills and time worthy techniques to counterbalance wasteful consumption. Her style is vernacular, intergenerational and appeals to those interested in a good back-story.
www.louisepresleyartist.com
--
Goetze Gwynn
Organ Builder
Martin Goetze and Dominic Gwynn set up their firm in 1980 to help revive interest in British organ-building and in particular the pre-Victorian British organ.
Goetze Gwynn also hope to revive interest in choral music, assist congregational singing and provide a suitable instrument for modern liturgies.
Since all old English organs have been irredeemably altered or destroyed, it is only on new organs that today’s players can recreate the music of the past.
www.goetzegwynn.co.uk
--
Janie Knitted Textiles
Jane Withers & Michael Hanmer. Interior Textiles & Lighting
Jane Withers and Michael Hanmer are the creative team at Janie Knitted Textiles, based in the Tan Gallop Studios. They focus on using natural fibres, such as merino, linen and cotton to create their luxurious knitted homewares and accessories, and wool lighting. You can see their wool pendant lights in The Harley Café.
Our aim is to be innovative with knitted texture and construction methods using machine knitting and stitching techniques. We enjoy creating a diverse range of contemporary knitted fabrics using natural and woollen fibres for use in our interior and fashion accessories products.
Janie Knitted Textiles are available from The Harley Gallery Shop.
www.janieknittedtextiles.com
--
Kyra Cane
Potter
Kyra Cane is a successful potter who has also been a lecturer in ceramics and drawing since 1986.
Through her collaboration with the international interiors brand Villa Nova, these works have been translated into interior decor products that are now available across the globe.
Kyra was course leader of Harrow Ceramics at the University of Westminster from 2000 to 2009 and is an experienced external examiner.
She creates vessels inspired by her observations of landscapes and weather patterns. They range from large vigorously thrown pieces to small intimate pots, decorated with a series of marks and subtle textures. She draws extensively and is the author of the Bloomsbury book “Making and Drawing”.
www.kyracane.co.uk
--
Natalie Harris
Jeweller
Natalie Harris’ handmade jewellery is inspired by colourful and sparkling gemstones. She chooses these stones, such as Tourmalines, Rubies and Aquamarines, for their individual character and natural beauty.
She then designs her jewellery to capture and celebrate each individual stone, often finishing her pieces with a matt texture to let the beauty of the gemstones shine.
Natalie Harris’ jewellery is available to buy from The Harley Shop. Natalie also works to commission. She specialises in wedding and engagement rings in 18 and 22ct gold, platinum and palladium. Designs can include gemstones, and diamonds which are ethically sourced and conflict-free. Natalie also offers a re-design service that transforms old, unworn and inherited pieces of jewellery into the heirlooms of the future.
www.nataliejaneharris.com
--
Laura Baxter
Jeweller
Laura Baxter is an established metalsmith and jeweller. She hand makes contemporary silver and gold precious jewellery, silverware, wall pieces and large public artworks inspired by birdlife and botanical forms.
Seedpods, buds, twigs and the internal structures of flowers are abstracted and magnified in different scales. Designs reflect how plants change and grow throughout the seasons. Laura’s designs capture the essence and beauty found in plant life. Her designs are graphic yet delicate and have a simple, timeless elegance.
She regularly runs workshops, including outdoor jewellery experiences where you can make your own piece of jewellery while enjoying the landscape. Imagine a day of creativity in the woods, with a campfire and homemade, organic refreshments.
Laura’s wildflower jewellery collection was featured on BBC1 Countryfile in May 2018.
www.laurabaxter.co.uk
--
Phil Neal
Sculptor
Phil Neal is a sculptor fully skilled in the techniques of modelling, moulding and casting. He also carves wood and stone and letter cutting is a speciality. Phil comes from a medical background having trained in prosthetics at Guys Hospital & Queen Mary’s Roehampton.
He has spent many years in design engineering and can undertake work in a wide range of media. Phil is passionate about recycling, art and music education especially at Primary level. His concerns for the environment make him a keen cyclist with a particular interest in vintage cycles. He collects and plays a variety of instruments including brass and woodwind.
www.sculptor.co.in
--
Michelle Reader
Sculptor
MMichelle Reader has been working with recycled materials since 1997, creating unique figurative sculptures from household waste and found objects. Her sculptures are often representations of people or wildlife.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Michelle creates sculptures to commission for businesses, using waste materials relevant to the project, for instance collecting litter from rivers for a nationwide ‘Treasure your River’ campaign working with environmental charity Hubbub. She also recently created a ‘Great Wave’ of waste plastics for the National Space Centre in Leicester, as part of a new exhibition about climate change.
The Welbeck Art Trail features two commissioned horse sculptures by Michelle Reader, which you can find in the Courtyard. These were created almost entirely using salvaged architectural and agricultural metalwork found on the estate. www.michelle-reader.co.uk
--
Rachel Wood
Potter
Rachel Wood’s tactile ceramics are directly inspired by the colours, shapes and textures observed in the natural landscape, notably from local Derbyshire, and also from travels in Australia. Her pots are wheel thrown or hand-built from stoneware clay and decorated with layers of slips and glazes to appear like painted landscapes.
Rachel Wood’s ceramics are available to buy in The Harley Shop.
www.rachelwoodceramics.co.uk
--
Richard Hartley
Guitar Maker
Richard Hartley designs and makes hand crafted classical guitars.
He uses traditional techniques to construct his instruments using only the finest quality materials and tone-woods.
Richard has a background in design, cabinet making, woodcarving and restoration and studied at The Newark School of Guitar Making.
In 2014 he was awarded the Most Outstanding Contribution to Musical Instrument Craft from Nottinghamshire County Council.
www.richardhartleyguitars.com
--
Urban Projections
Rebecca Smith. Visual Artist
Urban Projections is the work and collaborations of artist Rebecca Smith, creating multi-sensory experiences for audiences which combine physical and digital technologies. Rebecca’s practice centres around the natural environment, and our place within it.
Rebecca’s work has been viewed in prestigious venues throughout the UK and internationally, such as The Saatchi Gallery, Tate, The Royal Academy of Arts and The Royal Albert Hall. With a heavy influence of street art culture, and love of abandoned sites and objects, she uses forgotten spaces as a canvas for much her work. Rebecca has lead high quality, cross-boundary projects, workshops, and seminars at both educational institutions and within the community.
Rebecca is an active advocate for the encouragement of women and the LGBTQ+ community in the arts, and technology.
www.urbanprojections.com
--
Simon Mount
Furniture Maker
Inspired by the need for compact and clever solutions from living in an urban environment for many years, Simon Mount creates bespoke as well as his own branded furniture often incorporating multifunctions.
In 2001 he launched Doistrinta. Utilising cork as his signature material, he places utmost importance on using ecologically sound, sustainable and natural materials to create his work. In combination with cork, he uses a variety of recycled, recyclable and sustainable materials. With a sincere and passionate approach, Simon creates furniture and products that are functional, aesthetically pleasing and thought provoking pieces.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
--
Waller & Hewett
Ruth Waller & Lee Hewett.
Textile Artists
Waller Hewett are a creative designer/maker partnership who produce work that crosses the boundaries between Art, design and craft.
Their principle aim is to develop work that playfully explores the textural, structural and dimensional potential of textile surfaces, producing artworks, products and installations that encourage haptic, surface and environmental interaction.
www.wallerhewett.co.uk
--
Steve Handley
Furniture Maker
Steve Handley trained as a sculptor in the 1960’s and taught for many years. He began to make furniture 12 years ago and has been working as a furniture designer and maker for the past 8 years.
Steve is renowned for his unusual and witty furniture. From his studio here at Welbeck, (formerly the estate’s blacksmithing workshop) he creates all manner of furniture from all manner of discarded objects.
Much of Steve’s inspiration comes from four sources: the agricultural past and rural debris; Irish country furniture; East European folk art; things made by the ‘unskilled’ out of resourceful necessity. His strength as a maker is in the re-invention of uses for abandoned objects.
Each Steve Handley piece is different and carefully made from reclaimed timber. Much of the decoration added to his tables, chairs and cupboards are rare gems from a bygone age, collected over the years by Steve.
With poetic wizardry he brings together the discarded into new things with form and function. His pieces can be inscribed visibly with one of his own poetic rhymes or a special message straight from the heart maybe tucked away somewhere out of sight.
Alternatively, you can commission Steve to make you a unique.
www.stevehandley.co.uk
