Alison Carthy – Walk to the Rising Sun Oak
I live in the South Pennines, an area steeped in textile history, once producing the durable broadcloth made by handloom weavers and today high-quality worsted suiting.
My work is inspired by the landscape of the Pennines; the moorland and valleys that provided the materials for the industry and that resonate with its history. I gather my inspiration on walking journeys following the footsteps of the weavers from their hamlets and over the moors to the market to sell their cloth. The tapestries record these journeys, which would have been made in all weathers, full of natural landmarks, shapes and colours.