Works by artists, makers and designers are featured throughout Warksburn Old Church, and are an essential element of the interior design and visual aesthetic of this unique space. The small first floor gallery space is curated by Anne James, herself a practicing ceramic artist. The gallery offers guests an exclusive opportunity to purchase a selection of works by some of the featured artists.
Jack Laverick is part of the new generation of ceramic designers & makers using clay to produce contemporary designs for the home. Working to Anne’s conceptual design, Jack created the spectacular overhead lighting feature in the full height space. Laverick & Son is a British Lighting brand founded in 2017 by father and son ceramic designer/makers Tony Laverick and Jack Laverick. Working from their studio just outside of Stoke On Trent, Tony and Jack design and craft every light with their own hands.
Simon Denton of Manchester Fine Furniture created four bespoke pieces for us: two floor standing lamps and two console tables. These were made from a yew and a walnut tree which once stood in the grounds of Warksburn Old Church. Simon is both a fine furniture maker and professional cellist, working since 2001 with orchestras and popular music artists. Simon’s interest in woodwork was nurtured by the late Peter Howcroft (Anne’s cousin), an inspirational tutor with a passion for design. With Peter’s encouragement he took a year away from his career as a cellist and enrolled on the full-time diploma course at the Peter Sefton Furniture School in Upton-upon-Severn. He then returned to Manchester to set up his own workshop, specialising in hand-crafted, exhibition quality work. He currently draws inspiration from Scandi minimalism and Japanese furniture.
Kate Miller is a printmaker working mainly in linocut, sometimes incorporating elements of collage and monoprint into her work. She draws inspiration from Northumberland’s beautiful countryside, long sandy beaches, rolling hills and historic castles, as well as further afield in the north of England and Scotland. Sometimes focussing on smaller details, such as seedheads, pebbles, hedgerows or rock pools, and at other times capturing a wide view or scene in a layered linocut, there’ll always be a nod to nature and its beauty and intricacy. Her work also celebrates colour, which is sometimes exaggerated, conveying a feeling experienced in a place. Kate is experimenting with the boundaries of linocut; exploring textures, colours, inking techniques and layering, to discover just what it can do and where it can take her next. Kate’s work is to be found throughout Warksburn Old Church, with a selection of her prints hanging in the first floor gallery.
Charlotte Thompson comes from a creative family, with her sister, mum and grandmother all being painters. Her BA in Art and Education at Reading University led her into a 25 year career in primary and middle schools, teaching children how to be artists. When Charlotte is not teaching, she spends her time creating her own artwork, taking inspiration from the world around her, particularly Northumberland’s beautiful Tyne Valley where she has her home. Charlotte’s approach is always to be learning and trying new things. Watercolour has been her favourite medium for many years and brings instant results. A particular fascination for Charlotte is the way the paint changes as it is absorbed by the paper. You’ll find Charlotte’s work throughout Warksburn Old Church.
Jim Kearney is an artist and landscape photographer based in Northumberland. He takes his inspiration from the stunning Northumberland coast and hills, the Scottish Highlands and the Lake District. Since establishing himself as a full time professional photographer in the early 2000s, Jim has developed an individual style over the years, concentrating on panoramic landscapes. He finds that format ideally suited to capturing a sense of space; enabling him to capture and convey the varied landscapes and vast skyscapes of Northumberland in a stunningly impressive manner. The huge walls of the main living space offer a superb location for some of Jim’s very large prints, whilst smaller format works are on display in the first floor gallery.
Coral Blamire is known for contemporary stained glass, traditionally handcrafted. From her studio near Hexham, she creates original art pieces using time-honoured stained glass techniques that have changed little over the centuries. Coral’s method of creating this type of stained glass has changed very little over time and she enjoys the feeling of connecting with skilled artisans of a bygone era to produce modern stained glass art pieces that sit comfortably within contemporary environments. In this spirit, the window reveals behind the internal Passivhaus triple glazing form a fascinating 21st Century showcase for Coral’s work, with the original 19th Century church windows behind.
Guests will find ceramics by Anne James in various locations around this unique building. Along with her husband Alan, Anne owns Warksburn Old Church and is the driving force behind its interior design. As an artist herself, Anne was determined that the work of leading North East artists should be an integral part of the visual aesthetic of the unique space she and Alan have created.
Anne makes both functional and decorative ceramics using hand building techniques from her home studio in Wark. Her work is influenced by her garden and the rural landscape of Northumberland, and a childhood growing up in Scotland, especially holidays to the West Coast. She creates texture with found objects such as wooden printing blocks, and wallpapers from her childhood home to produce beautiful jugs, bowls, vases and flower bricks. Originally a scientist, the chemistry of glazing is a particular interest. Celedon glazes are her main passion because of their delicate finish. Her work often combines antique glass with glazes to reflect the natural world.
