Farfield Mill Presents: Celebrating Wool
Nestled on the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Farfield Mill - housed in a historic wool mill - is a vibrant centre for textile arts supporting local makers through exhibitions, workshops, and educational programmes. Now, in a celebration of both heritage and contemporary craft, Farfield Mill is delighted to unveil its latest exhibition, Celebrating Wool. The exhibition showcases the versatility and beauty of wool in textile art, featuring the shortlisted entries from this year’s Farfield Mill Textile Competition.
New Growth, Lois Winfield
“We are excited to showcase the incredible talent of textile artists. This exhibition is a true celebration of the diverse ways that wool can be used and inspire creativity,” says Jo Mowbray, Director of Farfield Mill. “It’s an exhibition for everyone - whether you are interested in visual art, a textile enthusiast, or simply curious about wool’s many uses.”
Artists were invited to interpret the theme in their own unique way, drawing from the rich heritage of the British wool industry, the landscapes where sheep graze, or by using wool as their primary medium. The result is an inspiring collection of artworks that reflect the depth, versatility, and enduring charm of wool.
A Taste of Place, Michelle Ault
The exhibition includes an impressive range of textile practices - from weaving, embroidery, felting, and knitting, to mixed media and sculptural forms. Some pieces are grounded in the rural landscapes and animals that define wool's origins, such as a felted Moorit Ram, and an embroidered Scottish Blackface Sheep framed by Harris Tweed. In A Perfect Day on the Farm, bold colours abstractly evoke golden fields, deep blue seas, and lush wooded hills.
Other works explore the tactile and sculptural qualities of wool, such as New Growth, where wool fibres are densely needle-felted into a base of reclaimed brushed cotton, creating a richly textured surface that seems to invite touch.
Repurposed, Dianne Standen
In her work Repurposed, Dianne Standen illustrates the various stages of wool production and the methods that can transform the fibre. The pure fleece serves as a 'frame', highlighting the colours and textures of the fleece, which surrounds a central section mirroring the landscape of rocks, moss, and grass typical of sheep habitats.
Whether you’re a lifelong textile enthusiast or new to the world of fibre art, Celebrating Wool offers fresh inspiration and a renewed appreciation for this sustainable, natural material.
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Further Information:
Exhibition Details
Farfield Mill, Garsdale Road, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5LW
19 March – 1 June 2025
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:30am – 4:00pm
Learn more at: www.farfieldmill.org
Image Credits:
Lead Image: A Perfect Day on the Farm, Sarah-May Johnson
All other images as credited in the photo captions.