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The Open Garden and Studios trail
Art takes many forms in the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, and one of the most popular is always the Open Garden trail. In recent years this has grown into a full programme of venues which also includes the best of local artists' studios to give a stunning combination of local creativity and skill (with a little help from nature).
Most places of the Open Gardens and Studios map are either one or the other, but visitors to one Mytholmroyd location can take in both a studio and a garden.
 Elaine Davies will be taking part in the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival for the first time this year, although she has been designing and producing knitwear for 20 years, building up the business, alongside raising her two sons. Elaine started her business in Leeds when she won £50 on the premium bonds, with which she set off to buy yarn from local mills, and she has not looked back since!
Based in a converted barn in Midgley, she scours the country for unusual yarns, in a wide variety of colours. Some yarns are especially spun for Elaine at local mills giving the knitwear an individuality not found on the high street.
Elaine will be sharing the open studio event with a close friend and artist Stella Parslow. Stella, like Elaine exhibits at shows throughout the country and also in galleries. Her work is varied and ranges from abstract canvasses to original watercolours and contemporary French landscapes.
Elaine and her husband Dai will also be opening their woodland garden at Ewood Hall Barn, Midgley Road, Mytholmroyd for visitors to admire their peaceful hillside location, which no doubt inspires Elaine's creative output.
A map listing all the gardens and studios is available from the Festival box office on Albert Street (01422 842684, open daily). On the middle Sunday of the Festival (27th June) minibus tours will operate to three gardens in Pecket Well which are opening exclusively for this. Seats on the minibus sold out quickly past year, and early booking is recommended
ROGER MUNDAY
25th May
roger.munday@3-c.coop
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