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For my first spotlight on inspiring artists, I couldn’t think of a better place to begin than with Anni Albers. Ellie and I often talk about how much we admire her work, her bold designs, innovative techniques, and her distinctive visual language continue to inspire us both, and they’ve deeply influenced Ellie’s own practice over the years Born in 1899 in Berlin, Albers initially aspired to be a painter but she found her initial training as a painter stifling. Her teacher Oskar Kokoschka discouraged her from continuing, and the Impressionist Martin Brandenburg forbade her to use the colour black.  She...

This month’s Book of the Month takes us beyond the familiar names and into the overlooked stories of women who shaped the art world. In The Story of Art Without Men, Katy Hessel reclaims art history from its male-dominated narrative and shines a light on centuries of female creativity. It’s part manifesto, part celebration — a book that will leave every maker, weaver and artist seeing the wider tapestry of art in a whole new way.

Spend two creative days weaving at Fisherton Mill, learning how to plan, warp and weave on a 4-shaft table loom. Discover the tools, yarns and techniques I use in my own studio and find out why this mindful, tactile craft is as satisfying as it is beautiful.

WATERCOLOUR PAINT   FLEABANE  (Pulicaria dysenterica) Common Fleabane, a native to Europe and Asia, is in the daisy family (Asteraceae). Growing up to a meter tall it can easily be spotted in the hedgerows in late summer, between the end of July and September, where it favours damp conditions alongside ditches. Fleabane and Ragwort Its bright yellow flowering heads could be mistaken at first sight for Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), but a closer look at both the flower and the leaves will quickly tell them apart.  These two were found growing along the same stretch of a lane near my home in...

 BACK TO NATURE  Natural Paints Workshop What a lovely way to spend a warm summer’s evening!  I was invited by Asia, of Back to Nature, to speak to a women’s group at their Vallis Veg site, situated on a hillside in gently rolling countryside, near Frome in Somerset.  As I stepped out of the car the immersive effect of the surrounding trees and grasses was immediately welcoming. I'd been asked to talk about the natural colours that can be extracted from plants and made into paints; something that I do regularly on my Elka Textiles workshops.  The group was made...