Annie Garnett: The Alchemy of Colour

About

Discover the work of pioneering textile designer and entrepreneur Annie Garnett, a leading figure in the British Arts & Crafts Movement.

Step into the vibrant world of Annie Garnett, a pioneering textile designer and entrepreneur of the British Arts & Crafts Movement. Annie Garnett: The Alchemy of Colour unveils Garnett's extraordinary mastery of colour through a stunning display of embroidered and woven textiles produced at her Windermere-based workshop, The Spinnery.

Running from Friday 4 April until Sunday 5 October 2025, this exhibition celebrates Garnett's innovative approach to textile design, where nature played a major part of the design process. Inspired by the flora cultivated in her cottage garden and the hues of the surrounding Lakeland landscape, she sought to capture these colours with exceptional accuracy. To achieve this, Garnett collaborated with renowned Staffordshire dye maker George Wardle—best known for his work with William Morris—to develop rich, plant-based dyes that brought her vision to life.

Alongside Garnett's original textiles, visitors will have the opportunity to see newly commissioned work by Jacqui Symons of Slow Lane Studio, a Manchester-based artist dedicated to reviving natural dye processes. These contemporary pieces will replicate the stunning colours found within Garnett's designs, bridging the past with the present.

The exhibition also includes materials from Lakeland Arts' Annie Garnett Collection and Archive, featuring rarely seen photographs, watercolours, letters, and hand-drawn plans of her iconic garden—offering a rare glimpse into the creative mind behind The Spinnery.

Annie Garnett: The Alchemy of Colour exhibition is included with house admission. Included with the Annual Pass and Lakeland Arts Members can visit for free. Book your tickets in advance via www.blackwell.org.uk or on the day at the ticket desk.