UNmaking – Exhibition by the Textile Study Group
Saturday 12 September to Sunday 8 November 2026
In this exhibition, ‘unmaking’ is not simply about taking something apart; it’s a deliberate act of deconstruction that can be a powerful journey of discovery. It asks us to question our assumptions and to explore new directions by embracing the process of unravelling, cutting, and unpicking. ‘UNmaking’ invites us to consider if a work, poised on the verge of disintegration or collapse, can be acceptable as complete, and what it means to an audience if we present a piece that is somewhere between made and unmade.
This contemporary textile exhibition will be accompanied by an exciting programme of informal Meet the Artist sessions as well as pre-booked workshops where you can learn or develop new skills and share ideas. Dates and times for Meet the Artist sessions may change slightly due to travel and transport constraints, so do check before making a special visit. Bookings will open soon for workshops – please watch this space!
Workshop and Meet the Artist Programme
Saturday 12 September, 2pm – 4pm: Opening Celebration
Join the Artists for drinks and conversation and help celebrate the new exhibition.
Sunday 13 September: Drop-in Family Workshop with Alice Blackstock (drop-in, free)
Unusual Objects & Overlooked Surfaces: Drop-in Rubbings Workshop
Join textile artist Alice Blackstock and have fun making rubbings using pieces of industrial equipment, unusual objects, and overlooked, everyday surfaces. All ages welcome, come on your own or with your family and have fun experimenting. For children, young people and adults to enjoy together. Free entry, donations welcome.
Friday 18 September: Meet the Artist Eleanor Burkett (drop-in, free)
Saturday 19 September, 10.30am – 3.30pm: Workshop with Eleanor Burkett (£85 / £80, booking required)
Paper Manipulation, Moulding with Paper and Creating Embossed Patterns
Use a specialist paste to strengthen paper as you mould around shapes and make embossed surface prints. Eleanor will demonstrate how to combine paper and fabric together and use a range of paper yarns for further experimentation.
Saturday 3 October: Meet the Artist Sian Martin (drop-in, free)
Sunday 4 October, 10.30am – 3.30pm: Workshop with Sian Martin (£85 / £80, booking required)
Rip to Create!
Transform old, abandoned household linens into something new, by ripping into strips and putting together in different ways to create new textiles. For adults and for young people aged 14+.
Friday 9 October: Meet the Artist Polly Pollock (drop-in, free)
Saturday 10 October, 10.30am – 3.30pm: Workshop with Polly Pollock (£85 / £80, booking required)
Small Looped Baskets
Make a small looped pouch from paper yarns. This will include making a simple mould to work around, learning how to get started, then working the main body of your small looped basket/pouch, how to join materials, and how to finish off.
Saturday 17 October, 10.30am – 3.30pm: Workshop with Bobby Britnell (£85 / £80, booking required)
Tone and Line
Investigate tone and line in a number of ways and explore their uses in design for both art and textiles. All abilities welcome.
Saturday 17 October: Meet the Artists Shelley Rhodes & Mandy Pattullo
Sunday 18 October, 10.30am – 3.30pm: Workshop with Shelley Rhodes (£85 / £80, booking required)
Reworked Cloth: Fragment and Repair
Start with a piece of cloth that may be pre-used, weathered and worn, new and pristine or even something that you have previously dyed, printed or stitched. Then alter and rework the cloth by chopping, changing and rearranging.
Sunday 18 October: Meet the Artists Bobby Britnell & Mandy Pattullo (drop-in, free)
Friday 23 October: Meet the Artist Dorothy Tucker (drop-in, free)
Saturday 24 October, 10.30am – 3.30pm: Workshop with Dorothy Tucker (£85 / £80, booking required)
Into the Blue
Come and enjoy hand stitching freely into cyanotype samples to be provided by Dorothy. As you work interesting lines, textures and patterns into the designs you find on blue cloth, you will begin to create lovely samples of your own to take home.
Saturday 31 October: Meet the Artist Amarjeet Kaur Nandhra (drop-in, free)
Sunday 1 November, 10.30am – 3.30pm: Workshop with Amarjeet Kaur Nandhra (£85 / £80, booking required)
Print & Repeat
Tetra Pak printing is a straightforward and versatile introduction to the intaglio printing process. By repurposing recycled food packaging, you can create unique intaglio printing plates with an immediately printable surface, unlike other collagraph materials. Print on fabric to produce original prints that can be used in textile projects or as standalone pieces. Learn how to engrave your plates by cutting, scoring, and peeling the surface to create striking lines, marks, and tonal areas, resulting in exciting individual prints.
Saturday 7 November, 10.30am – 3.30pm: Workshop with Vivienne Baumont (£85 / £80, booking required)
Fabric Faces
If drawing faces feels intimidating, this workshop is for you. Together, we’ll explore relaxed, low-pressure drawing methods that focus on the joy of creating rather than ‘getting it right’. We will translate your favourite drawings into beautiful fabric pieces using stencilling, appliqué, and stitch. For adults and for young people aged 14+.
Sunday 8 November: Meet the Artist Vivienne Beaumont (drop-in, free)
Banner image: Textile by Dorothy Tucker
