A Greener Future for British Textiles Exhibition
A celebration of British fibres, heritage craft, and sustainable textiles rooted in land, sea, and place
A Greener Future for British Fibre is an exhibition celebrating the richness and versatility of locally sourced, sustainable materials through the eyes of contemporary textile artists.
Featuring works by Daena Rose, Molly Harris, Ellie Pyner, and Jane Gray, the show explores the textures, colours, and stories of Cornwall’s landscapes, seas, and soils, transforming natural fibres like wool, nettle, and plant-based dyes into wearable art and handwoven textiles.
Each artist brings a deep connection to place, heritage craft, and sustainable practice, inviting viewers to consider the beauty and potential of local fibres, the importance of mindful creation, and the vital role of artisans in shaping a greener, more resilient future for British textiles.
The exhibition not only showcases remarkable craftsmanship but also encourages engagement with the natural world, the preservation of traditional techniques, and the celebration of local creativity.
This exhibition is FREE to view in Trebah’s gallery space
Daena Rose has worked for over 50 years professionally in textile art. Her primary focus has always been in natural fibres and dyes, producing woven and felted original work which have been exhibited and sold in many countries.
Living in and inspired by Cornwall’s wild seas and coastal woodlands she creates wearable art which is now her new passion.
Daena’s new studio in Falmouth, will become a focal point for designing and creating made to order original clothing using natural dyes and locally sourced wool from rare breed sheep.
This latest exhibition encourages the viewer to see the endless potential of the raw materials found locally and transformed with sustainable creations. The group here have in common a dedication to bring these special handmade and dyed textiles to a wider audience and encourage the support and development of local artists and their individual talents.
Molly Harris is a Textile Artist living and weaving in Falmouth. She is inspired by the costal landscape focusing on exploring colour, texture and the emotional connection between place and memory. Using predominately natural fibres and deadstock yarns to create sustainable, thoughtful pieces.
Ellie Pyner: Born in Cornwall, My hand woven textiles tell tales of the hidden beauty of Cornwalls rugged landscapes and marine life. I am working to preserve heritage craft, embrace natural pigments and create work with meaning using sustainable practices and working in close connection with my surroundings. I have always had a deep love for my birthplace and it’s became very clear that I love working with colour and texture. Through my woven work I hope to strike conversations and draw people closer to their environments and encourage people to see things in a different light.
ON WHICH WE ROAM is a woven exploration of the ground beneath our feet; the soils of our future. A merging of Earth, Clay and Yarn, its the drawing closer of our earthen roots and local artisan craft. This collection brings together the beauty of texture, natural pigment and sustainable practice into a wondrous collection of fabrics. Designed with the ancient history of Cornwall at its heart , a passion for our rugged landscapes, and the earth that brings them life. It sheds a light on the often overlooked beauty and importance of SOIL
BENEATH THE SURFACE dives into the hidden beauty of Cornwalls vast marine ecology. Embracing natural fibres, pigments and heritage craft it weaves the colours, textures and feelings of marine life together to create a striking nod to the often overlooked vibrance of whats beneath the surface.
Jane Gray: also known as “The Nettle Lady,” founder of Nettle Revolution, Jane is a Gwithian based creative and wellbeing practice rooted in nature, sustainability, and traditional plant knowledge.
Jane is a textile designer (BA Hons Textile Design, Falmouth University, 2020), a weaver, workshop facilitator, and nature-based educator. For over seven years, she has been researching and working with stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) as both a heritage fibre and a deeply nourishing plant for wellbeing.
Jane’s practice explores the intersection of:
- British plant fibres (especially nettle fibre)
- sustainable craft and weaving
- foraging awareness and biodiversity
- holistic wellbeing through nature connection
Her work includes handwoven nettle and linen textiles, nettle yarn exploration, natural fibre education, and sensory workshops that encourage “active looking” and mindful engagement with the natural world.
This aligns beautifully with the exhibition theme “A Greener Future for British Fibres,” as nettles are one of Britain’s most abundant, sustainable, and historically significant fibres, used for cloth, cordage, and community resilience for centuries.
Jessica Babbini-Baker explores location and capturing time through fibre art whilst reflecting on her heritage. These tapestries or ‘case studies’, allow her to observe and work presently in response to location. Depicting eroded areas that expose the Earth’s heritage serve as a metaphor in her work for exploring her own deep-time reflecting on the pressures in which we are formed.
