18th January 2010 - Riverside Romance in Wimborne.

Lovers of craft have the opportunity to become craft lovers, thanks to the special Valentines Day menu on offer at the Bistro at the Mill, part of Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne, Dorset.

Available on the evenings of Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th February, as well as at lunchtime on the 14th, the menu offers a choice of sharing platters, the perfect romantic meal for two, along with starters and desserts, all for just £15.95 per person.

Set in the grounds of the 18th century Walford Mill on the banks of the River Allen, the Bistro at the Mill is a fully licensed restaurant serving coffees, teas, cakes, lunches and light refreshments throughout the day. Terry and Jean Fuller are happy to take bookings for meals, special occasions and other functions. You can contact them on 01202 842258 or email bistroatmill@yahoo.co.uk.

12th January 2010 - Walford Mill selected for prestigious Brazil visit!

Christine Lawry, Chief Executive of Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne, Dorset, has been selected for Arts Council England’s Forming Ideas visit to Brazil in February 2010. “I am over-the-moon to be chosen to represent not just Walford Mill Crafts and Dorset, but the wider UK craft movement”, said Mrs Lawry. “We are already beginning to see links being forged between the UK and Brazil, thanks to the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. This trip looks to strengthen our cultural links as well.”

Forming Ideas is a programme of international visits and events funded by Arts Council England. The aim of the programme is to broaden and strengthen the debate and presentation of craft in the UK. It also aims to establish overseas networks and to provide opportunities for collaboration. This is the final visit in the current Forming Ideas programme and will take a group of around nine curators to Brazil. Previous visits have been to Cairo and all five Nordic countries.

The group will make visits to museums, galleries, workshops and studios of contemporary artists, designers and makers, in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and possibly Pernambuco or Minas Gerais.

Whilst in Sao Paulo they will preview ‘Pavilhão das Culturas Brasilerias’ at Parque do Ibirapuera (the Oscar Niemeyer pavilion complex and home to the São Paulo Biennale) – a new museum to be opened in 2011 and curated by Adelia Borges. Adelia will meet with the group and explain the concept behind the museum that she hopes will provoke dialogue around urban design, folk art, contemporary craft and popular art. They will visit other museums along with smaller galleries and the studios of artists such Luiz Hermano, the Campana Brothers and Favela da Linha.

From Sao Paulo they will travel to Rio de Janeiro, again visiting leading cultural centres, artists, makers and designers, Our itinerary will include a visit to Rockingham, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro and better known as Brazil’s largest, most dangerous slum. However thanks to one woman, Maria Teresa (known as "Tetê") things are changing.  Coopa Roca, the social enterprise she founded, is a women’s cooperative dedicated to reviving traditional Brazilian craft techniques such as drawstring appliqué, crochet, knot work and patchwork. Coopa Roca provides good-paying, work-at-home opportunities for women in Rocinha, and their designs have made the transition from handcrafts to high fashion. As well as fashion the cooperative work with architects, designers and artists such as Ernesto Neto.

On return to the UK the group will be asked to organise events with the aim of continuing the debate around what they witnessed and the issues they uncovered during their visit. Visitors to Walford Mill Crafts can look forward to experiencing the results of this visit for many years to come.

 

9th January 2010 - Raw Talent Exhibition

‘Raw Talent’ will showcase the amazing collection of work by the Rawling Family, bringing together creativity and fun at Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne, Dorset this January. Keith, Tiggy, and their sons Nic and William bring their great talents and years’ worth of experience together for the first time in a special family exhibition.

Keith Rawling trained at the Berkshire College of Art and began work in the advertising and publishing world. He went freelance in 1969 and specialised in book-jacket design. Using a variety of techniques, he began illustrating the books themselves. Keith worked on English Language Teaching books and won the award for Classroom Book of the Year. Keith was then ‘found’ by The Walt Disney Studios and recognised as having the talent to draw and illustrate in many different styles. He trained at both the Disney and Warner Bros. studios, and went on to illustrate many books and publications, along with character merchandising with all the characters from the classic films, such as Snow White, Jungle Book, Aladdin, and The Lion King. He continued illustrating, not only for Disney but many of the well-known characters that appear on TV. Since Toy Story, his skills with a pencil, brush and airbrush were not required as much, so he taught himself to do the same work on an Apple Mac. Currently he works for many major high-street brands as a designer, illustrator and photographer.

“I enjoy the challenge of a new discipline, and a moving target is more difficult to hit.” Keith Rawling

Tiggy Rawling’s big break into arts and crafts came when she took the City and Guilds course at Walford Mill. This course released a hidden talent and great enthusiasm for textiles. Quilting is her passion, and she has now progressed on to dying and creating textiles to include in her work. Her love of colour and now famous love of India have been combined to produce some stunning work, which has a different dimension from traditional quilts. Her enthusiasm is evident in the workshops and talks she gives worldwide.

Nic Rawling trained at Shelley Park and got his fine art degree at Kent Institute of Art and Design. Always interested in sketching, he has filled countless books with observations. After university he worked in various jobs and then moved into his Dad’s studio, working alongside him for four years. Designing children’s products on computers wasn’t really “his thing” and he wanted to go his own way. It was then he started tinkering with the idea of real-time animation, out of which came the Paper Cinema. Using his own drawings Nic cuts out hundreds of images, which he projects onto a large screen. With the backing of live musicians, he creates stories that both intrigue and amuse. Success at Glastonbury and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals and Battersea Arts Centre has led to touring success around Europe, with more planned for the next year.

William Rawling is a natural designer, but being the youngest member of the family he saw everything that goes with being an artist and decided it wasn’t for him. He got his BSc at Bristol University where he trained with the UAS. He is now a pilot for British Airways. Not to be out-done though, he suggested that he might put forward some photos taken from his ‘studio’ at 37,000 feet.

The Rawling Family will show their remarkable works of arts and crafts at Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset, from January 9th until February 21st. 

We are delighted to announce that our full planning
permission has been granted!

Our new development plans will help in the re-orientation of the Mill building with the design of a new entrance to bring visitors over the millstream and millpond. A new ‘green’ structure built from untreated green oak and glass will replace the existing gallery and Bistro providing another education space, larger gallery, new craft shop, more space for onsite makers, a covered demonstration area and a restaurant. A lift will provide access to all parts of the existing and new building.

Walford Mill Crafts Receives Arts Council England Funding

The funding Walford Mill has received will increase by 2.7% per year for the next three years.

This funding will help to support the creative team at Walford Mill and to continue to deliver and promote a successful education and exhibition programme, improve the quality and quantity of activities that Walford Mill offers within the creative industry.

Christine Lawry, the Chief Executive of Walford Mill, says, "We also see that the arts have a vital role within wider issues such as creative professional development, the environment and economic development. There are hundreds of talented local artists and craftspeople, our aim is to promote them alongside the national and international makers through our exhibitions, craft shop, educational activities and other events."

2006 - Winning Year for Walford Mill Crafts

2006 was a very successful and a real winning year for Walford Mill Crafts. After winning the special Chairman’s award in South and South East Britain in Bloom, in December Walford Mill also won Dorset Business Awards 2006,
‘Creative Industries Award’.

The Arts Institute in Bournemouth is renowned for their specialist knowledge in the areas of art, design and media. They are committed to enhancing the development of businesses within the creative industries and their contribution
to the economy. they sponsored the Creative Industries Award to encourage and support new and developing creative businesses in Dorset.

We are delighted to announce that Walford Mill was presented with this prestigious award for exhibiting continued growth and innovation within the creative industries.

Christine Lawry, Chief Executive of Walford Mill Crafts, said;
“We are absoulately delighted to win the award as it regognises our contribution to the creative industries through our support of crafts people. Up to 300 makers have the chance to sell their work at the Mill and our workshops give children the opportunity to develop an interest in a variety of crafts. It also acknowledges the part we play in supporting the local economy.”