We meet Thursdays 10.30am – 1pm – 3pm at Spring Bank Arts Centre, Spring Bank, New Mills SK22 4BH

This term finishes on Thursday 15th December. We start again on Thursday 12th January.

Anyone interested in joining the groups, please get in touch first. Email alison@highpeakarts or call 0752 815 9283

(See ‘Project eARTh at home’ for distanced activities, and all the projects completed during the Spring, Summer and Winter lockdowns 2020 and 2021) project:

Recent projects:

Book Sculptures:

Participants worked with artist Kate Freeborough to make a wonderful set of book sculptures, now on display in the windows of Sett Valley Insurance in New Mills.

Light Within

We are about to start a photography project with Josh Tomalin. Using 35mm film, participants will photograph dancer, Courteney Cruse, and with the photos, create a ‘light sculpture’, lit from within. This will be shown, along with a short 5 minute dance at aa event at Spring Bank Arts on Sunday 11th September , as part of New Mills Festival. Free admission.

Cyanotypes

We have just finished a project with artist Lucie Maycock creating cyanotypes and collages. It was a lovely artform to learn about and experiment with – and the resulting work is beautiful. We hope it will go to Arden House GP surgery in New Mills.

Here are some pieces participants will take home…

… and here are three of the completed artworks for Arden House – one more to follow!

Longdendale Ceramics

We worked with artist Helen Newman to create ceramic tiles for Longdendale Environmental Education Centre. After a trip to the Centre to meet the rangers and get inspiration, everyone set about designing and making ceramic tiles.

The tiles are being fired, before we can install them and celebrate in September, but her are some, before firing, some with coloured slip added, some before…

High Peak Communi-Tree

We worked with artist Alison Evans to embroider felted leaves on a High Peak theme to cerate a unique High Peak Commui-Tree. Everyone created beautiful leaves in great variety and the finished tree looks splendid in its new home at Spring Bank Arts, where our participants can enjoy seeing it, too. We have a joint unveiling event with the ‘Free Seed Exchange’ on March 24th, with the Mayor of the High Peak.

Seed Exchange

We worked with artist Roisin O ‘Connor to create ceramic flowers, fruit and vegetables to decorate a Seed Exchange structure – for people to donate seeds ad seedling they do not need, and take those they wish to grow. We made this for Incredible Edible New Mills, and after the unveiling event, it went to a new home in The Community Pantry in the Indoor Market in New Mills.

Leaf Release

We worked with artist Kay Stowell, learning different fused glass techniques, to make panels of seasonal leaves.

Participants made small pieces to take home, and together designed and made a collective artwork for Whitfield House, an assisted living centre in Glossop.

Project eARTh Song

We finally recorded the Project eARTh song that the group composed with musician Claire Mooney 18 months ago! It is all about Project eARTh, the friendships we make and art we create…

We are making a Youtube film to go with the song, but meanwhile, have a listen. We hope you like it.

‘Project eARTh’ by The Collective:

Nurture Nature

This project was led by artist Amanda Whewell. It was collage and print based and inspired by the work of artist Mark Hearld.

The 30 beautiful resulting framed collages are now in their new ‘home’ on the walls of St. Anne’s Parish Hall, and really brighten up the room.

Here are just a few ! More photos to follow:

There were activity sheets for each week, and short videos to accompany them to be found here:

Nurture Nature introduction

Nurture Nature Week 1 (from April 26th)

In the first week of Project eARTh’s ‘Nurture Nature’ project we made a 3D bird card to post to someone. It’s always nice to receive a card in the post, especially a hand made one. We have been inspired by cards designed by Mark Hearld – you may have seen them in the shops. As well as being a card they make a great decoration for any time of year. You can make your card realistic or decorative. We will work with a simple wax resist technique.

Nurture Nature week 2 * from May 10th)

In this second week, inspired by a walk outside, memories of nature, or images from magazines, tv etc, we experimented with some different ways of making collage.

Nurture Nature week 3 ( from May 17th)

In week three, our technique is printmaking. We made a stamp for block printing and cut some stencils and look at different ways of using them. You can also experiment with printing natural materials.

Nurture Nature week 4 (from May 24th)

In week four, we used the techniques learnt over the last three weeks to make a collaborative collage garland.

Nurture Nature weeks 5-7 ( from June 7th)

Over the next three weeks we worked on a mixed media collage inspired by your local nature. Particiapnts used any or all of the techniques we experimented with, in weeks 1-4. Looking back through worksheets at all the examples of Mark Hearld’s collages and prints from the last few weeks. Week 5 is design week so we thouht about what we discovered that has inspired us. Participants could use photos, sketches or notes to help with the design; ro drew from online research or a book to inspire designs or drew from memory/ imagination. Week 6 and 7 – creating the collage

The Felted Fall of Leaves

Participants worked with artist Carol Wilson to make individual felted squares on an Autumn theme – to include wet felting and then embellishing the work with embroidery. To start the project, everyone made a small square inspired by the traditional felting of Kyrgystan.

Participants then designed their Autumn themed piece, and felted them , and then embroidered into them.

We will frame the finished pieces in nine groups of 4, to display at the URC church in Buxton.

1of21

Current projects: interrupted by lockdown

We have two projects on the go!

Project eARTh Song: ( now completed – see above!)

We are having a song writing workshops with Claire Mooney, to write a song about Project eARTh.

We have been playing around with poetry and lyrics , and having fun in the process – quite a challenge to write a collective song with about 20 people, but so far the ‘band ‘ have not fallen out!

Brookfield Pond:

Relief metal work sculpture for Brookfield Pond. We are busy working with artist Adele Kime to create artwork for the railing on Brookfield Pond on Reservoir Road, Whaley Bridge. We will be working in aluminium and copper and are learning the different techniques we can use.

More recent projects:

Willow Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Sculptures:

We made wonderful willow sculptures of Alice, The Mad Hatter, The March Hare, a Teapot and Dormouse – all for our 40th Anniversary Tea Parties this summer – and then a permanent home in the gardens of Primrose Court ( sheltered housing in Hayfield). We worked with artist Juliette Hamilton and had great fun – it was very addictive and hard to stop weaving at 1pm.

Here they are as a work in progress…and finished…at one of the 40th Annivsary tea parties….and in their final home at Primrose Court, where we were treated to an amazing Alice in Wonderland themed party ..photo below of it all set up!

40th Anniversary Mugs and Plates

Also for our Tea Parties, we made a set of ceramic mugs and plates each one commemorating a different project from High Peak Community Arts’ past 40 years. Working with artist Caroline Chouler- Tisser, we had a lovely time exploring old photos to use as decal transfers. Here are some in their early stages ….and a few of the finished tea service…

Artistic ceramic hand made plate for tea parties

Artistic ceramic hand mademug for tea parties

Silk Painting for Spring Bank Arts

Participants worked with artist Amanda Whewell to create silk paintings as a wall hanging for Spring Bank Arts, inspired by Charles Kempe’s stained glass windows. We made 5 hangings for the windows of the Ingham’s Room, plus an accompanying book featuring smaller silk pieces, and participants sketches and notes.

They look stunning.

Ceramic Birds for Reuben’s Retreat

Participants worked with artist Caroline Chouler- Tissier to create ceramic birds for Reuben’s Retreat, the Glossop charity who are renovating the old Woods Hospital and work to relieve the distress of families who have suffered the bereavement of a child or have a child suffering from a life limiting/threatening illness.

The group made a large number of lovely ceramic birds, which were mounted on steel rods, and then installed in the gardens. these were unveiled by the Mayor of the High Peak, Cllr Linda Grooby, on October 18th. The participants were made very welcome by the charity, and everyone enjoyed tea, coffee and cake, and a tour of the building – both the completed ‘Lodge’ , and the old hospital .

St. George’s Church Altar Frontal

Participants worked with artist Amanda Whewell to create a New Mills themed community altar frontal, using ‘kantha’ embroidery and tie dye. This was unveiled in July by Ruth George MP and the High Peak Mayor, Cllr Linda Grooby. We all think it looks fantastic.

COGS – Ceramic Welcome Signs

Participants at New Mills Project eARTh worked with artist Caroline Chouler Tissier on 2 large welcome signs that will be placed in the Community Field at Furness Vale in the High Peak. Taking inspiration from the surrounding environment, and how local residents can use the park, the designs will be a rich mixture of those drawn into the clay; built on as relief pieces; and created by drawings and photos used as de-cal transfers. The finished signs will be mounted on aluminium. We can’t wait to see the finished results! We will unveil these on Tuesday 12th June.

Creative Writing:

Participants worked with writer John Lindley to write poems for an anthology. The Buxton group had writing workshops too, and the joint anthology, ‘Carved from the Earth’ has now been launched and is available at £3 from High Peak Community Arts and from High St Books and Records in New Mills.

Mosaic Trail:

Participants worked with artist Debra Tracey to create a Mosaic Trail for Furness Vale Community Field (COGS), inspired by flowers, birds, bugs and animals. An amazing 59 mosaics have been cemented onto rocks around the field, with a leaflet featuring them all for people to use and ‘tick off’ as the discover them all.

Steel Sculpture:

With artist Tracey Cartledge, Project eARTh participants worked with Year 5 children at Hayfield Primary School to create a steel sculpture for the ‘Bus Turn Around’ in Hayfield. The children came up with wonderful ideas, and the final design features a steam train called ‘Queen Bee’ .

Based on the train from New Mills Central arriving at the Hayfield terminus full of Sunday walkers back in the days following the Mass Trespass of 1932, this design concept references important history and also allows artwork from other pupils to feature in some of the carriage windows. In addition, this design has the interactive quality of providing an empty window in each carriage for visitors to pose behind for a great photo opportunity.

This sculpture, along with the sculpture designed by Project eARTh last year will be fabricated in the winter, and installed in early 2018. Derbyshire County Council Countryside Service have cleared the bus turnaround space , and are planting wild flower bulbs and seeds ready for next Spring.

The designs:

Orchard Textiles:

We worked with artist Amanda Whewell in hand printing, applique and embroidery to create beautiful curtains for High Lee Hall, inspired by New Mills Community Orchard. These were on display in Oxfam during New Mills Festival art Trail, and are now being enjoyed by all who work at and visit High Lee Hall.

Fused Glass:

We worked on fused glass project with artist Alex Blakey, creating a triptych of one metre by half a metre panels using a variety of fused glass techniques.

Here are a few pics of work on designs and learning the skills:

And the finished art work is now on display and looking wonderful at Manor House Surgery in Glossop.

Ceramic and felted Bird – themed project

Working with artist Caroline Chouler- Tissier we made ceramic birds and bird boxes, and with artist Carol Wilson, made felted bird pods. They formed a wonderful exhibition on Sat 5th November, and will now be distributed across the High Peak. Here are some of the final bird boxes and birds:

A few of the felted pods ..more images to follow…

And the felted and ceramic birds on display..

Work during the project…

Steel Sculpture Project

In May we did a project with artist Tracey Cartledge to make a steel sculpture for Hayfield, near the DCC Countryside Services Centre at the end o the Set Valley Trail. The group worked on overall design, and elements to go in the sculpture. Tracey is pulling together the final design, which will be made by a blacksmith.

Visit the Peak District by Train:

Train artwork presentation with the mayor.

Peak District Train Porject. Alison receiving flowers.

Working with artist Caro Inglis, we have created a series of 5 wonderful collages of Edale, Bamford, Hope, Hathersage and Grindleford. These have been framed individually and will be donated to community venues.(After appearing in New Mills Festival Art Trail in September) .

We also used thee images to make a collective poster featuring all 5 pictures to make a poster, ‘Visit The Peak District by Train’. In partnership with the High Peak and Hope Valley Rail Partnership, these large ‘Double Royal’ posters will be displayed at Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield Stations. We will print smaller versions for community venues. The aim is to encourage train use to see the beautiful Hope Valley .

Each image has also been printed onto di-bond to be installed on each platform at the appropriate station- e.g. Edale collage at Edale station.

Some of the work during the project….

Creative Writing / Shadows

Working with writer and storyteller Gordon MacLellan, we explored writing and creating stories, using poetry, prose and shadow puppets. We have had a fun trip to Bugsworth Basin, and then made shadow stories about it – including a true life Victorian era murder which took place on a narrow boat. less gruesome, we also have lovely shadow puppets of ducks, otters and birds…

Lantern Making for Hadfield LanternParade

We held a short lantern making project with Gordon MacLellan, making lanterns for Hadfield’s Lantern Parade on Fri Dec 4th 2015.

Our medical student placement enjoying lantern making — Our medical student placements enjoying lantern making

We also had 2 third year medical students from Sheffield University with us on a community placement, learning about Arts and Wellbeing.

Create A Song

We completed an eight week songwriting, singing and recording project with Singer Songwriter Claire Mooney. 24 of us jointly wrote a song – ‘Seasons of Goodwill’ , recorded it and performed it at our AGM on November 16th. As on week one only 2 people said they felt they could sing, this was a huge achievement. Everyone is rightly proud of the song! It will be distributed to visually impaired and disabled people via Buxton Talking Newspapers – but here it is for you to enjoy now!

Take Notice

We had a five week collage project with artist Caro Inlgis , focussed on the theme ‘Take Notice’ from the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Working on a collage... — Working on a collage…

The Fabric of Our Lives

We worked with artist Sue Lawty, weaving with recycled fabrics and using withies as the warp and loom. We made a beautiful wall hanging for Spring Bank Arts, unveiled on April 24th.

Making our Garden Grow
We made 3D ceramics flowers with artist Caroline Chouler –Tissier . Together with those made by the Buxton group in the Spring, and those made by children in Caroline’s artbox art clubs, the flowers were displayed in The Pavilion Garden Conservatory during the Buxton Festival 2015. The Celebratory Event was on July 9th , 11am – 12.30pm.

The flowers are now on display in the windows of Sett Valley Insurance in Market Street, New Mills.

Mosaic Trail

On Thursday 12th June, we started 7 weeks of mosaics with artist Debra Tracey. We made mosaics for installation along the path in ‘Gamesley Woodlands’, once more in partnership with Derbyshire County Council Countryside Service. The path runs from near Broadbottom to Simmondley, and might be know as some by the name ‘Gamesley Sidings’.

The Mosaics were unveiled on April 24th 2015 by the Mayor of the High Peak, Cllr Alan Barrow.

Shadow Puppets

Throughout 5 sessions in May, we created shadow puppets and tales with Babbling Vagabonds Theatre Company. We had lots of fun playing with Fairy Tales and making shadows. It was only a short project, but we made a host of short films, and enjoyed ourselves! We aim to show them as part of New Mills Festival Lantern Parade in September 2014. Here are the short films we made….

Hayfield Spoken Word and Music Project.

Project eARTh worked with artist Phil Girling and with children from Yr 3 of Hayfield Primary School in a series of workshops to create music and spoken words on the theme of Nature and the changing seasons. The final result will be two solar powered audio benches on the Sett Valley Trail by Birch Vale Reservoir, and in Bluebell Wood in Hayfield, and a CD. Everyone enjoyed the project, and working together with the children!

The Celebratory Unveiling Event is set for Wed July 16th….

Glass Fusion

We had two glass fusion workshops with artist Debra Tracey making individual glass tiles, hangings, and jewellery.

Some photos to follow!!

Ceramics for Dinting Railway Station

We have been working with Glossop artist Adrian Holt, creating site specific relief ceramic pictures for Dinting Railway Station. We had a busy eleven workshops through the Autumn and Winter- visiting the station, a session of fascinating information from Neil Williams of Friends of Glossop Station, and then creating five large relief ceramic tiles. They will be unveiled on Wednesday 18th June 2014. We will meet at 11am at Dinting Station, to see the artworks, then move to Bradbury House for photo display, slide show and refreshments. All welcome.

The pieces look fantastic..click on the photo below to see the slideshow…..

[Show as slideshow]

‘Moorland Panorama‘ , a wonderful felted wall hanging, was created by Project eARTh with artist Carol Wilson. This beautiful art work was unveiled by the Mayor of The High Peak on August 8th at its new permanent home, the Moorland Centre, Fieldhead, Edale. S33 7ZA. You can see it there along with a photographic exhibition of the project. The exhibition will be there during August and part of September.