MEMBERS of the Quay Crafts group gathered at the Pelham House Gallery in Cowes for the opening of their autumn exhibition recently.

The assorted group of talented ceramicists, glass-makers, felt makers, textile artists and a calligrapher each brought just a few pieces of their work to this lovely gallery in Cowes High Street.

Artists at the opening included ex art and textiles teacher at Cowes High School, Diana Parsons, who has achieved Islandwide, national and international success in her career as a textile artist since retiring from teaching.

One of her pieces had been chosen for the poster advertising the show. Diana’s more recent pieces have introduced figures and faces and her next exhibition will include poignant portraits from her family archive, within her wonderful textile collages.

Annik Cullinane brought just a few of her new felt collages in warm autumn colours. A full time artist, who also teaches on a few select courses across the Island, Annik has taught and encouraged a whole new generation of felt making folk although she is also an accomplished painter and particularly well known for her individual patchwork style coats that a few people are lucky to own.

Chris Lines, who is also an experienced felt making teacher and who facilitated the making of the Medina High School yurt, had brought her new felt pieces – hangings inspired by the sea and strata in deep blue hues and a stunning red hanging in the window.

Mary Flynn had work in mixed found media from the seashore and had textile wall hangings inspired by her forays including photographs of her colourful work with beach combing.

Sally Woodford has her serene ceramic pieces in grey, white and black in the window display as well as with the shop – pebbles and swan-necked vases that seem to defy the medium.

Dawn Campbell had one of her minimalist felt pieces in red, white and black above the till of her gallery and ‘Miss Ruby Tuesday’, an artwork in herself, was posing in a new red collar.

The new café at PHG, as it is called, was serving speciality teas (at £2.40) and very individual cakes such as earl grey butterfly cakes and lavender shortbread.

Quay Crafts exhibition at PHG runs until December 4, 2010.

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