Leading haberdashery shop and making workshop destination, Butterfly Bright, welcomes Monmouth’s respected artist and designer, Dee Hardwicke, to Sherborne on Wednesday 3 December where she will hold a workshop in Intarsia Design with Rowan Yarns.

Dee Hardwicke, whose Intarsia Design workshop received rave reviews earlier this year at Liberty’s of London, is a ceramic artist with a rich and diverse portfolio inspired by her love of the British landscape. Her work is steeped in the artisan tradition of the Arts & Crafts movement; she trained in the fine arts, studying painting and sculpture before undertaking an apprenticeship with Quaker potters in the Welsh Marches. Her business now encompasses everything from creating bespoke tiles and mosaics, to working with carefully selected companies to design beautiful chinaware, stationery, rugs and flooring that bring joy and a welcome splash of colour into everyday life.

Inspired by the natural world, using sketchbooks to record everything that catches her eye throughout the seasons, from the colours and patterns of a wild flower meadow on a summer’s day to a steel grey sky accented by a sharp ray of yellow winter sun. Dee’s sketchbooks become a celebration of nature as pages are filled with drawings, watercolours and pressed leaves and flowers.

Alison Nurton, Founder of Butterfly Bright, says: “Dee is a passionate believer in creating joyful and accessible pieces that bring pleasure and beauty into everyday life and we are delighted somebody of her talent and reputation has offered to hold such a special workshop in Sherborne”.

During the Intarsia Design Workshop participants will be guided through the workings of a small Intarsia square using a tulip, spring or seedling motif as used in Dee’s ‘Little Colour Knit’, a kit designed and produced in collaboration with Rowan Yarns. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of the Intarsia technique and the inspiration, skills and confidence to create their own colour chart from things that inspire them. The cost of the workshop, which is £50, includes all materials, morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea with cake as well as a 10% discount voucher to spend with Butterfly Bright.

Anyone who is interested in meeting Dee and taking part in the Intarsia Design Workshop can find details and book at www.butterflybright.com Alternatively email handmade@butterflybright.com or call 01935 817303.

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