Artist Terry Spurgeon

Terry Spurgeon 1993.

Artist Terry Spurgeon is a former employee of St Cuthberts Mill. Terry started at the mill in 1989 as the Chief Engineer, and worked at St Cuthberts for 9 years. He has had a long career in the papermaking industry, even working in Belgium for a period of time.

Terry’s creative career began in 1962 and he worked as a draughtsman for a company called De La Rue, designing printing presses and minting machinery. His work is of an illustrative style, with a clever a sense of humour. He projects this by using pen and ink with watercolour pencils, blending the colours with a wet brush. Terry’s paper of choice is Saunders Waterford HP (Hot Press).

Terry mainly does private commission work, but is exhibiting soon at the A2 Gallery in Wells, Somerset. He will have approximately 30 pieces of work on display, including the commission he completed for St Cuthberts Mill back in 1993. The mill is loaning this amazing illustration for the exhibition, which runs from 29^th March to 12^th April 2018.

Good luck with the exhibition Terry!

http://www.a2gallery.co.uk/

Terry Spurgeon's comedic illustration of St Cuthberts Mill, 1993.

Terry with his illustration 2018.

Dandy Roll Watermarks

We have a unique collection of Fourdrinier watermarks in our new boardroom. Our current PM2 mould machine was a Fourdrinier machine up until the 1980’s, after this time it was converted into the mould machine it is today. To create watermarks Fourdrinier’s use what are known as Dandy Roll’s, with the watermark presented on each separate roll. The watermarks displayed in our boardroom were all taken from these old Dandy Roll’s. 

'Hang Seng' Bank watermark

The ‘Hang Seng’ Bank watermark would have been used on our previous machine PM1, and on PM2 as a Dandy Roll. Our papermakers couldn’t read Chinese so were unable to figure out which way round the watermark should go. The answer came by visiting a local Chinese takeaway, who were more than helpful in reading which way round the watermark should go!

 We hope you enjoy viewing more of these exceptional watermarks.

*PM1 & PM2 (Paper Machine 1 & 2)*

Creativeworld 2018

St Cuthberts Mill are looking forward to exhibiting on the F.I.L.A. stand at Creativeworld. Creativeworld is the world's largest trade fair for hobby, craft and art supplies, giving a unique platform for manufacturers and businesses to promote their products.

Catherine Frood, Ray Wood, Philip Staple and Kate Taylor will be at the St Cuthberts Mill display area to greet you.

You will find us at Hall 4.1, Stand G51. We look forward to seeing you there!

https://map.messefrankfurt.com/en/CREATIVEWORLD/2018/4/4.1/G51

Old Paper Moulds

Remember the TH Saunders 1855 sample book that has been donated to The Cropper Foundation? Alongside it we also donated a variety of historical paper moulds. Here are a few photos of the moulds for you to enjoy!

(Mark Cropper, CEO of the papermakers, James Cropper PLC at Burnside Mill in Cumbria, is heading this project. The Cropper Foundation is a charitable body that will preserve historical artefacts stemming from the papermaking world.)

http://www.baph.org.uk/

http://www.jamescropper.com/

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all our customers! 

Wishing you all the best for 2018!

Happy Christmas!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New year, best wishes from the St Cuthberts Mill team! x 

Christmas Holidays

Please note that St Cuthberts Mill will be closing for the festive period on 

Thursday 21st Dec at 4.45pm. 

We will re-open for business on Tuesday 2nd January at 8.45am! 

Have a wonderful holiday all!

TH Saunders – Paper Manufacture, Sample Book 1855

We are delighted to announce that our historical TH Saunders Sample Book dating back from 1855, will be heading to a museum for future preservation and conservation. The book in question contains a huge variety of intricate watermarks and paper samples. Over time these have become somewhat delicate, making it even more important to save this remarkable piece of papermaking history.

Mark Cropper, CEO of the papermakers, James Cropper PLC at Burnside Mill in Cumbria, is heading this project. The Cropper Foundation is a charitable body that will preserve historical artefacts stemming from the papermaking world. Alongside the TH Saunders book, we will be donating a variety of deckles and moulds for handmade paper, and a selection of woollen felts. Our neighbours at Wookey Hole Caves and Mill will also be donating items .

The following images were taken from inside this incredible book of historic paper samples and watermarks by TH Saunders.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Harry_Saunders

http://www.baph.org.uk/

http://www.jamescropper.com/

Rugby season is upon us! We are pleased to announce that St Cuthberts Mill will be sponsoring two players at Wells Rugby Football Club (RFC). We will be sponsoring Alex Payne and Brad Hibbert.

“Wells Rugby Football Club was founded at a Dinner held at The Star Hotel on 12 October 1876. The first match was against Yeovil on 9 November and the Wells team captained by E M Hippesley was won with six unconverted tries to nil. Having said that, there is some evidence to show that a club was going some four years before 1876 as records show that a certain H Freeman from Wells and Marlborough was capped by England three times between 1872 and 1874 and also a Mr F B G D'Aguiliar who played for Wells occasionally played for England in 1872. Since those early days the club have moved grounds on many occasions from such diverse places such as, Gallows Close, Knapp Hill, East Horrington, the Bath & West Show Ground, Sheldons and since 1983, the present ground in Charter Way. 

The club is hoping to develop and expand, especially the playing areas, also the clubhouse needs to expand and update the changing facilities. However this all needs money, which the club has to earn one way or the other. The current committee are working hard to improve the facilities, bearing in mind of course that the main object of the club is to promote the great game of rugby in and around Wells for years to come.” Wells RFC

Alex Payne (centre)

Alex Payne is an Engineer and Electrician at St Cuthberts Mill. He has been playing Rugby for 17 years, and has played for Wells RFC for 14 years. His position is ‘Forward’, and he can play between numbers 4 and 8.

Brad Hibbert (centre)

Brad Hibbert previously worked at St Cuthberts Mill as an Electrician. Brad says, “I got into rugby after many years of the 'Payne' brothers telling me how good it was and I should get into it, I’m currently into my 3rd season of playing, I enjoy everything about it from spending 80 minutes battling your opposite man to the social side afterwards.”

#StCMill are proud to sponsor Alex Payne and Brad Hibbert for this rugby season 

with @wellsrfc #Rugby #Wells #Sponsorship

http://www.wellsrfc.co.uk/

GIVEAWAY TIME FOLKS!

We are giving away x5 Saunders Waterford blocks!

All you have to do to enter is email: giveaway@stcuthbertsmill.com stating ‘Giveaway’ in the header. Please make sure to include your full name and address.

Please feel free to share this post and include #StCMill in the text!

The 5 lucky winners of this competition will each receive one of the following: Saunders Waterford High White CP(NOT) block (20 sheets), 300gsm(140lb), 310mm x 230mm (12’’X9’’). (RRP £27.48)

Deadline to enter: Monday, 6^th November 2017, at 11.00am. The winners will be contacted via email after this date.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You are providing your information to St Cuthberts Mill Ltd only.

Somerset Art Weeks Tours of St Cuthberts Mill

Cathy, Nicki, Kate and Kim

Somerset Art Weeks 2017 has now come to an end. This year’s festival celebrated St Cuthberts Mill opening its doors for the first time, to run exclusive tours of our historic paper mill. We also supported the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen’s event ‘Paper Prospects’. This saw artist Jonathan Blackmore run a popular free lino cut workshop, using Somerset paper from St Cuthberts Mill.

The guided tours of St Cuthberts paper mill provided a real insight into the world of papermaking for our visitors. Many had never seen how paper is made, especially using a mould machine that dates back to 1906. A vast number of visitors were surprised to see how much goes into the process, and how ‘hands on’ everything is.

Our members of staff met some truly wonderful people, and were happy to ensure that our tours were interesting and informative. We’ve had some fantastic feedback from the local community, and beyond.

Our tour guides Cathy, Kim, Kate and Nicola have all now returned to their day jobs as the tours have come to an end. We’d like to say a big ‘Thank you’ to everyone who came to the mill.

Somerset Art Weeks Festival 2017- 'Prospect'

23 September- 8 October

Somerset Art Weeks is the unique celebration of Visual Arts in Somerset.

This year St Cuthberts Mill is involved in many ways for Somerset Art Weeks. Not only are we giving pre-booked tours of the mill, but we are also providing paper for the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen’s ‘Paper Prospects’ event.

“As part of the Guild’s focus during Somerset Art Weeks on “Paper Prospects”, Guild Member and linocut printmaker Jonathan Blackmore will be offering a free ‘have-a-go’ sessions on October 7-8 at the Guild Shop (venue #29). In partnership with St. Cuthberts Mill - makers of quality paper - this is the perfect way to SUPPORT LOCAL this Autumn: print a Somerset scene, on Somerset Paper with a Somerset Artist! When you buy handmade, you support local craftsmen and women, and acquire something truly beautiful. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm.”

https://www.facebook.com/Somerset.Guild/

http://www.somersetguild.co.uk/

Interview with artist

Annie Williams

St Cuthberts Mill Award Winner

Annie Williams

“The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition / St Cuthberts Mill prize for an outstanding work on paper, worth £250, has been awarded to Annie Williams for her watercolour, Still Life with a Small Spanish Bowl. Abstraction meets representation in this dynamic work, which is occupied by beautiful prussian blue, cerulean and ultramarine tones. Speaking of the subject matter, the artist said “most of my chosen objects are pots – I have a sister and friends who are potters, so have acquired quite a number over the years. I love their shapes and colours.” Congratulations Annie!

 The Sunday Times shortlisted works will be shown at Mall Galleries, London from 19 – 24 September 2017 before touring to a number of venues across the UK.

Annie Williams, Still Life with a Small Spanish Bowl.

Annie Williams, RWS/RE/RBA, was born in London and grew up in Wales. She originally worked as a Nurse at the Great Ormond St Hospital before studying art at the City & Guilds Art School. Annie now lives and works in London, and is an elected member of the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS), Royal Society of Painter/Printmakers (RE), and the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA). She regularly exhibits with the Bankside Gallery.

Annie is mostly a still life artist who creates compositions by incorporating a variety of shapes, patterns, textiles and newspaper cuttings into her work. These mixed media compositions often have a distinct element of abstraction.

Patchwork III

Your work is made up of a variety of mixed media. What do you feel these different elements bring to your work?

My work is primarily watercolour plus a little added gouache for some highlights, or structural changes. On a separate board I often pin up a collage of various media including abstract patterns I had previously painted. The still life is arranged in front of this. This gives me the chance to play with shapes and colours. Sometimes the background is entirely imaginary.

Listening to music

What is the best part of creating art?

Like anyone who is happy at work, one can get totally submerged in the process and forget all the other problems that life throws at one. It kept me sane last year as I coped with six months of chemotherapy for Lymphoma. 

What is your creative process like?

It can be difficult to get started, but once involved it can be hard to stop. At the moment I paint on average 4 hours a day, excluding time spent on framing and other connected things. I’m lucky that I belong to 3 art societies and there are always exhibitions to work towards. I am always trying to think of new ideas or subject matter.

A river runs through it

What is the best art advice you’ve ever been given?

The best advice - thats a difficult one, the advice I would give to others is go to exhibitions, look at other peoples work, think about why you do or don't like it, learn from them. Send into open exhibitions, you never know you might be successful and get shown . Wonderful for building up confidence.

How has your artistic style changed over the years?

I think my work has become a little more abstract, more colourful, my subject matter has changed considerably.

How do you feel about winning The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition / St Cuthberts Mill Prize?

I feel quite chuffed! I only decided to enter on the last day of submission. I also look forward to trying out some new paper. The choice of paper is incredibly important to me in getting a result I am happy with.

https://www.royalwatercoloursociety.co.uk/artists/109-annie-williams/overview/

https://sundaytimeswatercolour.org/

http://www.banksidegallery.com/