The North West Craft Network is a gathering of curators, galleries,
museums, Arts organisations, collectors and makers based in the North
West of England, UK. Founded in 2012, our goal is to strengthen and
promote high quality craft within the North West.
The North West Craft Network is delighted to welcome three new members. Lighting designer Claire Norcross, Jeweller and Silversmith Rachel Elizabeth Wood, and Vanessa McDermott, the recently appointed Director of Gawthorpe Textiles Collection.
Here's a little more about them:
Claire Norcross
Claire Norcross is best known for the range of designs produced whilst she was head of lighting at Habitat. Claire’s approach to lighting is to create sculptural objects which are illuminated and this is evident in her Ribbon, Aperture lights as well as the recent Crystalline light which was launched as part of the Design Reunion project for Habitat.
Claire’s design process is more closely related to that of a designer-maker, yet her work has developed a commercial edge and encompasses a wide range of materials, from paper to metal and glass. Claire is currently working on new ranges for her own company, Luminosity, as well as developing a number of freelance projects from her studio in Preston.
Rachel Elizabeth Wood
Rachel Elizabeth Wood is an international contemporary British jeweller & silversmith specialising in handmade bespoke pieces for all sporting and country enthusiasts.
Since launching Rachel Elizabeth Wood as a brand, Rachel has become one of the leading contemporary British jeweller/silversmiths whose work is collected internationally. Rachel's work has also been exhibited in a variety of prestigious institutions including The Goldsmiths Company and the Victoria and Albert Museum and The British Museum as part of Queen Elizabeth 11 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.
Her contemporary jewellery and silversmithing combines precious metals and rare tropical woods. She specialises in wax carving using a selection of micro hand tools to ensure that her animals and figures take on a presence and character that are true to form.
Vanessa McDermott - Director, Gawthorpe Textiles Collection
Gawthorpe Textiles Collection is one of the finest collections of lace, embroidery and textiles in Europe. Housed at Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire, the collection was amassed by Miss Rachel B. Kay-Shuttleworth (1886 – 1967). She was renowned for her expert knowledge and skills in needlework, and for her dedicated work with local communities. Miss Rachel turned her ancestral home into a Craft House in order to keep alive the textile skills and techniques she feared were being lost.
Bringing a wealth of experience from community Arts projects, Tate Liverpool and Social Housing, Vanessa McDermont has recently become Director of Gawthorpe Textiles Collection. She hopes to continue to build on the legacy of Miss Rachel Kay Shuttleworth through creative public programming, supporting local makers, brokering new strands of community engagement and developing fresh ways of reframing the collection.
For more about the North West Craft Network, click here
The North West Craft Network is delighted to welcome three new members. Lighting designer Claire Norcross, Jeweller and Silversmith Rachel Elizabeth Wood, and Vanessa McDermott, the recently appointed Director of Gawthorpe Textiles Collection.
Here's a little more about them:
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| Aperture, Claire Norcross |
Claire Norcross is best known for the range of designs produced whilst she was head of lighting at Habitat. Claire’s approach to lighting is to create sculptural objects which are illuminated and this is evident in her Ribbon, Aperture lights as well as the recent Crystalline light which was launched as part of the Design Reunion project for Habitat.
Claire’s design process is more closely related to that of a designer-maker, yet her work has developed a commercial edge and encompasses a wide range of materials, from paper to metal and glass. Claire is currently working on new ranges for her own company, Luminosity, as well as developing a number of freelance projects from her studio in Preston.
Rachel Elizabeth Wood
Rachel Elizabeth Wood is an international contemporary British jeweller & silversmith specialising in handmade bespoke pieces for all sporting and country enthusiasts.
Since launching Rachel Elizabeth Wood as a brand, Rachel has become one of the leading contemporary British jeweller/silversmiths whose work is collected internationally. Rachel's work has also been exhibited in a variety of prestigious institutions including The Goldsmiths Company and the Victoria and Albert Museum and The British Museum as part of Queen Elizabeth 11 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.
Her contemporary jewellery and silversmithing combines precious metals and rare tropical woods. She specialises in wax carving using a selection of micro hand tools to ensure that her animals and figures take on a presence and character that are true to form.
Vanessa McDermott - Director, Gawthorpe Textiles Collection
Gawthorpe
Textiles Collection is one of the finest collections of lace,
embroidery and textiles in Europe. Housed at Gawthorpe Hall in
Lancashire, the collection was amassed by Miss Rachel B.
Kay-Shuttleworth (1886 – 1967). She was renowned for her expert
knowledge and skills in needlework, and for her dedicated work with
local communities. Miss Rachel turned her ancestral home into a Craft
House in order to keep alive the textile skills and techniques she
feared were being lost. - See more at:
http://www.gawthorpetextiles.org.uk/about#sthash.hnBsTpy2.dpuf
Gawthorpe Textiles Collection is one of the finest collections of lace, embroidery and textiles in Europe. Housed at Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire, the collection was amassed by Miss Rachel B. Kay-Shuttleworth (1886 – 1967). She was renowned for her expert knowledge and skills in needlework, and for her dedicated work with local communities. Miss Rachel turned her ancestral home into a Craft House in order to keep alive the textile skills and techniques she feared were being lost.
Bringing a wealth of experience from community Arts projects, Tate Liverpool and Social Housing, Vanessa McDermont has recently become Director of Gawthorpe Textiles Collection. She hopes to continue to build on the legacy of Miss Rachel Kay Shuttleworth through creative public programming, supporting local makers, brokering new strands of community engagement and developing fresh ways of reframing the collection.
For more about the North West Craft Network, click here
