This September, the gallery will welcome an exciting and diverse group of artists whose practices come together to create a rich celebration of creativity, craft and place.
On the ground floor, Steph Jansen will present her solo exhibition of wet-felted work, while the first floor will feature Elizabeth Forrest, Denise Coupland, Dianne Gill, Ingrid Katarina Karlsson, Alison Wake and Phillip Evans Pottery. Each artist brings their own distinctive visual language, materials and perspective. Alongside these individual practices, the collaborative Stitching Ashbourne Project will explore the connections between traditional making, contemporary art and the stories held within our community.
Textile art has an important place within the exhibition, celebrating the skill, patience and creativity behind stitch, fabric and handmade processes. It also creates a natural connection with The Ashbourne Big Fashion Day Out, highlighting the relationship between art, fashion and textiles, and reminding us that fabric can be both functional and a powerful form of artistic expression.
Gallery Director Ruth Matthews says:
“My own background as a trained Textile Technologist, followed by 12 years as a Fashion Designer, has taught me that fashion, textiles and art are intrinsically connected. The discipline of design and the craftsmanship of textiles come together to create individual, expressive pieces, just as an artwork requires both creative vision and technical skill.
“Bringing textiles into a gallery setting is particularly important because it allows this often-overlooked art form to be seen and appreciated in a new context. Textiles can sometimes be viewed primarily as functional or decorative, yet they hold an extraordinary depth of skill, creativity, history and cultural significance. Within a gallery, stitch, fabric, pattern and construction can be considered alongside other contemporary art forms, giving textile artists the recognition and space their work deserves.
“For me, the beauty lies in that meeting point between imagination, material and making, where textiles become not simply something to wear or use, but a powerful form of artistic expression.”
The combination of textile, stitched work, ceramics and other forms of handmade practice will create a varied and tactile exhibition, inviting visitors to look closely at process, texture, colour and detail. The Stitching Ashbourne Project adds a strong sense of local identity and collective creativity, while the individual artists bring contrasting approaches and personal expression.
Together, the exhibition celebrates individual talent while reflecting Ashbourne’s growing appreciation of art, making, fashion and community, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the many ways in which creativity, craftsmanship and contemporary art can come together.
There will be a meet the artist event on September 6th more details here
For more information about Ashbournes Big Fashion Day Out also September 6th for whom Hopton Hall are Sponsers click here
August 13, 2026
