Historic Swedish Art in Staffordshire

First, a little teaser: would you want to play with these, build with these or eat them? In fact you shouldn’t really do any of these things, but least of all eat Sue Prince’s paint box!

At the risk of somewhat overdoing a Staffordshire theme, albeit quite unintentionally, last weekend we were back into Staffordshire, although in this case only a few miles from here.Sue Prince, one of those people who fills one with awe because they achieve so much and so successfully, but who turn out to be quite charming and normal when one meets them, had organised an art event at her home, as part of the Staffordshire Open Studios Open Art programme.

It was a pleasure to have an excuse to visit Sue and Terry’s organic Beechenhill Farm, in a beautiful setting right up high above Ilam.

Here they have converted one of their barns into a very striking high ceilinged studio cum art gallery/meeting/party room.

Sue’s art is amazing. Reminiscent of the style of the Bayeux tapestry, the process, inspired by 18th century decorative wall hangings known as Bonads, is based on an ancient Swedish type of painting which no one in Sweden knew how to do any more until Sue started going back to teach them!

Also exhibiting, as well as Sue, were several other artists including Parwich’s very own Jean Wayne, who was demonstrating her very attractive felting ‘creations’. We do have an impressive number of artistic souls in Parwich; that surely is the subject for another post, soon…!