Latest News

Ancient Flintshire sites in Welsh wool

Published: 16/07/2014

A volunteer programme for older people is hosting an art project giving the opportunity to work alongside professional felting artist, Helen Melvin. Using local wools, natural dyes and early felting techniques, they have been designing and creating textiles inspired by protected monuments in Flintshire that reflect ancient Welsh heritage. A selection of sites were chosen to inspire their artwork including Penbedw the standing stone and stone circle at Nannerch; The Gop which is the second largest manmade hill in Britain with caves containing Palaeolithic remains and Maen Achwyfan stone cross in Whitford which contains Viking designs. Set up by the Retired and Senior Volunteer programme, each group has received three days of workshops which included site visits, felting techniques and creating finished textile pieces. Site photographs for the exhibition were taken by photographer Alan Whitfield. In addition to the course, a five day artists residency with Helen will take place at the Daniel Owen Centre in Mold from 15-19 July. The drop in workshop is open to the general public from 10am till 4pm.and will offer practical felting demonstrations, discussions and a display of photographs. An exhibition of the completed work will be staged in Holywell Art & Craft Mill gallery and will be officially opened by the Chair of Flintshire County Council, Councillor Glenys Diskin. It will be on display from 29 July to 3 August and then for four months in libraries across Flintshire. This project has been funded by Arts Council Wales, the Tourism Department of Flintshire County Council, and the Arts, Culture and Events Section of Flintshire County Council who are coordinating the project on behalf of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme. For more information contact Beth Ditson, Community Events Coordinator in the Arts, Culture and Events Section on 07786 523 601.