Teesdale artists reunite for spring exhibition in Richmond

TWO of Teesdale’s top artists are reuniting for their regular spring exhibition in Richmond.
The exhibition by Victoria Bellas Carter, from Staindrop, and Suzanne Tweddle, of Barnard Castle, has become an annual feature at The Station, in Richmond.
Ms Tweddle is renowned for her lampwork jewellery, while Ms Bellas Carter impresses with her unique tissue paper collages.
Gaining inspiration from her love of colour and flowers the tissue artist’s studio is set in Eggleston Hall Gardens.
Her technique continues to evolve and develops along with the many challenges that come from the numerous commissions she has undertaken.
The spring exhibition will showcase her brand new tissue paper collage originals, limited and open edition prints along with her growing range of bespoke products inspired by, and featuring, many of her tissue paper collage designs.
These include coasters, placemats, fine China mugs, greeting cards and new for 2017, notebooks and journals.
Ms Tweddle’s studio is situated in Barnard Castle where she designs and hand-makes glass beads, buttons, baubles and jewellery using a technique known as lampworking – the art of  making small objects from glass rods melted in the flame of a torch.
She said: “Lampworking is a technique that enables me to design and individually make beautiful glass beads with intricate detail, making each bead unique.
“Colour is what inspires my designs, from the brightest oranges to the coolest blues. The combinations evolve through experimentation inspired by nature, fabrics and fashion.”
Her most recent collection ‘Byzantine’ is inspired by the opulence of bygone eras and sees her incorporating 24k gold into her beads.
Ms Tweddle also runs lampworking workshops from her studio in Barnard Castle.
The exhibition is currently on at The Station and will continue until March 30.