Ruth Illingworth is one of our hard-working garden volunteers. She is also a talented artist and since 2016 has been learning about the Walled Garden plants and what colours different plant parts, leaves, petals and roots can produce.

This has led to her painting only in inks and pigments she has made from dye plants, deadheaded petals from the garden and sustainably foraged plant parts from the local area. She has also used plants to dye fabric and paper in interesting ways. Natural inks are used in other artworks like artist books.

Ruth invites you to drop in and meet her in her Pop Up Studio which is part of the Site23 Open Studios festival. Her painting of the garden, botanical art and still lives as well as silks and dyed fabrics will be on sale.