Latest news with #WonderwoolWalesfestival
Western Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire woman to exhibit at art show in London
Nancy Una Simmons from Milford Haven, who previously attended Carmarthen School of Art, will exhibit her creations at London art show New Designers. She will be accompanied by fellow ex-student Rachel Thomas from Aberystwyth. Both women were awarded £1,000 bursaries by Wonderwool Wales, a natural fibre festival, after graduating from their BA Textiles courses. As part of the award, the artists had the opportunity to display their work at the festival and network with other professionals. After gaining experience and exposure at the Wonderwool event at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, they now are preparing for the next step in their artistic careers. The New Designers exhibition in London is an annual event that provides a platform for the top graduate design talent from across the UK. It showcases the work of more than 2,500 graduates in a variety of disciplines including textiles, graphics, and product design. The bursaries from the Wonderwool Wales festival have been used to support their work, providing them with opportunities for future growth. They expressed gratitude towards the festival, acknowledging the indispensable support which helped them establish a future career direction. The exhibition in London provides the artists with an opportunity to showcase their work beyond Wales. Ms Simmons has been working on her wall hangings, throws, and cushion designs since her graduation. She plans to launch her own business that focuses on weaving and running natural dyeing workshops. She grows her own plants in her garden in order to use the natural dye in her work. Her passion for sustainably produced art finds a fitting expression in this initiative. The £1,000 bursary will help fund her trip to London for the exhibition. Rachel Thomas, who has also been productive since graduation, was equally enthusiastic. The artist has gained a position as a weaver in residence at Newtown Textile Museum, where she will work this summer. Ms Thomas has purchased a loom with her awarded fund and has ambitious aspirations for her future practice. She envisions producing fabric for costumes in films and TV productions. She is set to make profitable use of her skill by taking on commissions and exploring various facets of textile art. Chrissie Menzies, director of the Wonderwool Wales festival, said: "It was lovely to see Rachel and Nancy exhibiting at the show and we are pleased that the bursaries are supporting them to develop their careers as textile artists. "We wish them success at the New Designers event in London."
Powys County Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Wonderwool Wales in Builth Wells one of the best ever
Builth Wells played host to the 19th annual Wonderwool Wales festival, which has been declared one of the best ever. The event, which took place last weekend, saw a record-breaking attendance as people from all over the country flocked to the Royal Welsh Showground. A large crowd on Saturday led to many exhibitors having to restock for Sunday, as customers were eager to purchase a wide range of wool-related products. Organisers were still finalising the figures from the event later this week, but the general view was that the show had broken records, helped by higher than usual attendance on the Sunday. Chrissie Menzies, Wonderwool Wales director, said: "We were delighted with this year's show in terms of both the attendance and the business transacted by exhibitors. "We received so much positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors, which is a tribute to the whole team involved in delivering this annual event, which is probably the largest of its type in the UK and possibly Europe." A special installation marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day was one of the highlights of the weekend. The 'Britain at War' exhibition, created by a group of knitters in France and across the world, was launched at Wonderwool Wales 2025 and will now tour the UK for the next 19 months. The exhibition opened with nine panels but will expand to 80 by Tuesday, September 3 as it visits six additional venues. The VE Day project has been organised by Tansy Forster from Normandy and her fellow knitters, who also created The Longest Yarn installation for D-Day. More than 1,000 knitters from around the world took part in that project. Wonderwool Wales had an international feel, with Kimberly Perkins from Cat Mountain Fibre Arts in Colorado flying in to showcase her hand-dyed, multi-textured yarn bundles, along with knitting and crochet patterns. Sheep Walk fashion shows, Woolschool workshops, demonstrations and have-a-go sessions run by some of the exhibitors all attracted strong interest from visitors. Wonderwool Wales showcases every stage of the creative process involving wool, from raw fibre to finished product. Exhibits of sheep, raw and hand-dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes, and books can be found alongside finished textile art, craft, clothing, and home furnishings. Helen Hickman, owner of Nellie and Eve, Llanwrda, said: "It's such a lovely, well-organised show that gets better every year. "The standard and quality of exhibitors is very high. "A lot of customers were there for the weekend and many said they were amazed by how much can be done with wool." Phia Ingham, a fashion designer from the family business Window of Woolly Wonders, Bangor, said: "We absolutely love the show because there is something for everybody and the people here are so friendly." First-time exhibitor Kery Moyle from Ginger Pink Yarns, Frome, said: "It's like no other yarn show I have been to. "I didn't know what to expect but can't believe how big it is.
