The Dales have been inspiring artisans for generations. For the many artists, sculptors and workers in wood based here this is reflected in their work. There can be few better mementos of a trip to the Dales than a piece inspired by and created here.
Artisan centres
Farfield Mill close to Sedbergh has a range of artists, exhibitions, workshops and a café.
Reeth - sculptor Michael Kusz who creates unique sculptures from recycled materials, Seam of Silver run by designer-maker, Helene Shovlar, who creates distinctive, contemporary jewellery and Philip Bastow - a cabinet maker specialising in bespoke commissions using beautiful British hardwoods.
Laura's Loom in Sedbergh is where you can find woven products made from locally sourced wools. Laura can be found at her loom most Wednesdays.
Galleries
You will also find local work on display at the National Park Authority's offices at Bainbridge and at Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, as well as a number of other local venues such as the Lime Gallery in Settle. Scar Art Gallery can be found in the beautiful village of Ravenstonedale and The Leck Gallery is tucked away close to Cowan Bridge.
Open Studios
Every year local artists welcome people to their studios and homes through the Open Studios scheme.
Artists
Our artists include Piers Browne who lives in Wensleydale and paints evocative landscapes, Katharine Holmes who is the third generation of painters working from her home in Malhamdale, Kitty North who works in Arncliffe and Penny Hunt who works out of Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
Frank Gordon is a landscape painter who finds most of his subject matter within walking distance of his home in Settle. Andrea Hunter is based in Hardraw and draws inspiration from the Dales landscape, its inhabitants and the dramatic contrasts that the Dales weather brings.
Potters, glass blowers and candle makers
Uredale Glass is a handmade glass studio situated in Masham. At White Rose Candles at Wensley you can watch candles being made using traditional and modern methods.
The Cat Pottery is based in West Burton. Here the Nichols family haves been making Moorside Cats since 1982. Ingleton Pottery is a small family run business where you can see the potters working from the showroom making high-fired, hand thrown Stoneware pottery.
Teapottery in Leyburn make teapots in shapes from cocktail bars to toasters. At David Ashby's Courtyard Pottery in Grassington there is always something to see at various stages of production - from the throwing through to the finished article.
Furniture makers and blacksmiths
At the Royal Oak Furniture Company enjoy a tour of the cabinetmaking workshops and showroom high above Grassington on the edge of the moors. A glimpse behind the scenes reveals the creative skills throughout the furniture process from the felled timber through to the final polish.
The Malham Smithy is the workshop of blacksmith Annabelle Bradley, who designs and hand forges sculptural and functional wrought ironwork.
