biteabout arts
Berwick uponTweed
After graduating with a BA(Hons) Fine Art at Camberwell School of Arts and
Crafts, London in 1988, I returned home to Northumberland to work as a
photographic artist and silversmith. In 1994 I trained to teach whilst
continuing on my own creative journey. I started experimenting with the many
processes in the making of felt in 2005. I fell in love with its versatility,
being able to paint with a varied palette of dyed wools, create something
delicate and ephemeral using fine wools and silks, or use more sculptural
techniques to form vessels. In 2008 I was introduced to the many varieties of
coloured willows grown locally for basketry and the traditional techniques used
to work with them. It excited me and I started using these to create vessels and
sculptural forms. In 2011 I set up Biteabout Arts with the intention of creating
unique items for sale and delivering a variety of art and craft workshops. We
have been renovating the buildings at our smallholding to provide a working
environment and somewhere to deliver workshops. Biteabout Farm is a North
Northumbrian smallholding consisting of over 7 acres of permanent pasture. It
was formally known as Coalshank (sited near to Biteabout Colliery) and also The
Red Lion Inn ...'a troublesome little pub' until the 1940s. Badly neglected in
more recent years, we took it on in 2002 and started its transformation. With
far more work needed than initially anticipated, renovation is still ongoing,
but nearing completion. I am now working in my studio and have a program of
workshops on offer here. Sculptures are made to commission. Drawing on their
creative expertise of materials, processes, 3D form and design, a working
partnership between Anna Turnbull and Richard Charters. Working together, they
explore the creative possibilities of your idea. The creative process takes
time. It starts with collaboration through drawing, discussion and exploration
of materials. An animated armature is created in mild steel by Richard, the
bones. Anna weaves the flesh, emphasising its muscles and flow, its movement. It
is the dialogue between them that brings the creations to life. Each sculpture
is unique due to its individually made metal armature and the natural material
of willow. Past pieces can be recreated, but each will have its own stance,
character, life.
