Wirral Arts: Collages with nautical theme inspired by days by the sea

Dec 5 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Heswall News

A COLLECTION of collages with a nautical theme were inspired by days by the sea.

Anne Knight has put together her first ever exhibition called Sew Nautical, which captures her love of the coast in a series of works.

Her cheery creations incorporate paint, paper, fabrics and clay to make up the designs, and derives from happy memories of sunny holidays and walks around the Wirral coast.

Anne, who is a nurse in a Liverpool hospital, juggles her art in between work and home life.

Sew Nautical is on display at Staacks gallery in West Kirby until the end of the month.

Anne, 53, said: “I just love experimenting with different materials and compositions. It adds to the playfulness that is at the core of my work.

“Paddling on the beach or playing along the harbour side, memories of deep blue and green seas, cotton wool clouds and candy houses rekindle those whimsical and carefree times of youth.

“The collages are my interpretation of harbours in Cornwall and walking along the coast in Wirral, we regularly visit as my husband is from Wallasey.

“I experiment with paper and paint, and print my own designs using stamps to put in to a collage with air-drying clay, buttons and cotton.

“Each piece takes a week to put together but I work on a few at a time.”

There are 17 pieces in the collection, accompanied by a permanent display of model-size wooden houses.

Each house is hand-crafted with a unique design drawn on and prices start from £4.

Anne, from Lydiate, added: “I am a self-taught artist. I have always been creative and done art in some form since I was a child.

“My job as a nurse is demanding, and this is a great way to unwind and show my creative side.

“The wooden houses are permanently on displayed at Staacks. They are made from pine wood. I begin the process my cutting the wood to size, and create different shapes and sizes then sand them down and draw on them.

“It is lovely to see my hobby develop and I now have a workshop. I enjoy it and it a great way to switch off.

“This is my first solo exhibition, and, although I’m nervous its very, very exciting.”