Wet Felted Landscape

Claire is a local felt artist, living and working in Teesdale. She is an active member of the International Feltmakers Association and in 2019 founded her small business ‘Teesdale Felt’. Since it’s conception, this business has evolved and thrived, changing as various openings and challenges materialise. As well as creating and exhibiting original artwork, Claire also teaches in the locality and further afield. She retails a wide variety of kits and materials and has developed several online YouTube tutorials. This business has been shortlisted for two local business awards in the Social Responsibility and Customer Focus categories.

Claire’s artwork has evolved over time as she experiments with different techniques and fibres. Her artwork is very tactile and textured. She works with a variety of materials including merino wool, silks, ribbon, hand spun yarn, Angelina fibre, curly locks and natural fabrics. Claire uses wet felting techniques to create images of landscapes, seascapes, animals and also 3D vessels, lampshades and resist work. Needle felting is used to enhance these items and also create ornaments and animal sculptures. In 2024 Claire was a finalist in the Lancashire Artist of the Year competition and her picture of the Trough of Bowland is currently featured in their 2025 calendar.

As Claire’s reputation has developed, she has been featured in several publications including the Australian ‘Felt’ magazine. She travels across the North of England delivering group workshops and speaking at events; and as a trained teacher with a BEd. Hons Degree goes into schools teaching about the history of felting and delivering class workshops to children of all ages. Felting is particularly therapeutic and Claire regularly offers community-based workshops where students benefit from working creatively with wool and fibres. Recent commissions have included projects working with the Durham Wildlife Trust, Northern Heartlands, The Land of Lead and Silver, Teesdale Special Flora Trust and Highlights Rural Touring.

Claire combines her felting with a love of the countryside and regularly goes walking in Teesdale and the Lake District. She enjoys taking photographs on her travels to use as inspiration for her work and is passionate about Paddleboarding and of course her family.