Homecoming for Ilkley arts trail (From Ilkley Gazette)
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Homecoming for Ilkley arts trail
9:00am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Local news
By Jonathan Redhead, Ilkley/Otley Reporter
Pictured at the Secret Drawer shop in Ilkley are, from the left, Bill Dale (director, Dale Eddison), Sue Hirst (Secret Drawer), Jo Batterham (designer, Secret Drawer) and Helen Taylor (garden designer)
A dolls’ house, a surveyor and two designers combined to get behind a town’s second art trail.
The first Ilkley Art Trail was hailed a success after it ran in conjunction with Ilkley Literature Festival in 2011.
And to promote this year’s trail, which the organisers believe should be even better, several artists were asked to recreate their work on a miniature scale.
Trail supporter, designer Jo Batterham, contacted artists to see if they could provide smaller versions of their work, including original sculpture, and has brought them together in a preview venue – a Victorian doll’s house – which has had a makeover, including outside items from garden designer Helen Taylor, and is now installed in the window of Ilkley’s Secret Drawer.
Bill Dale, also a trail supporter and director at Dale Eddison estate agents, ‘surveyed’ this new property, which stands for many of the venues in the trail, including homes, studios and shops.
“There is so much exciting art being produced in our area, how marvellous to have it exhibited in properties throughout the town,” he said.
“It is a tremendous effort. I urge people to take advantage of this free event being delivered to our doorstep.”
The trail runs for nine days, from Saturday, October 6, and organiser Lorna Bird said she was delighted with the support from local businesses.
“Last year’s trail was literally pulled out of thin air – we were very pleased that so many regional and local artists got involved and made it a success,” she said.
“This track record enabled the 2012 Trail to ask for support from our local business community, and it has come from all sorts of sources – not only other designers such as those at Milestone, and printers Olicana Stationers, but also from a wide variety of other business types: Ilkley Art Trail programmes are available at shops, cafes and hotels throughout the town or visit ilkleyarttrail.org.uk for more details.
