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Wednesday 19 July 2017

Patchings Art Festival 2017


Work in progress by Ann Blockley on Saunders Waterford paper


The St Cuthberts Mill crew have just experienced a weekend full of creativity at Patchings Art Festival. All our art demonstrators were fantastic, and the crowds had a brilliant time. We had our ‘Try and Test’ area again this year which was a huge success, and was manned by Dominic Cooper and Kate Taylor from St Cuthberts.

StC's Catherine Frood with artist Carne Griffiths


An artist new to Patchings was Carne Griffiths. Carne performed several demonstrations for us over the weekend. Well done to Carne for keeping the audience entertained when the electrics blew, firstly because of his kettle (he paints with hot tea, ink, and alcohol), and secondly because a camper van plugged in, and tripped the electrics out. Even with these slight interruptions, every demo went exceptionally well. A massive thank you to demo artists David Bellamy, Ann Blockley, Soraya French and Carne Griffiths. And huge thanks to everyone at Patchings Art Centre for yet another fabulous festival!

Jenny Keal with husband/artist David Bellamy


Wonderfully vibrant work by artist Soraya French


See you for the Patchings Art Festival's '25th Anniversary' next year!


Thursday 6 July 2017

Patchings Art Festival 2017


THURSDAY 13 TO SUNDAY 16 JULY

10am to 5pm each day – 

gates open from 9am

Were looking forward to Patchings Art Festival next week! Thanks to Daler-Rowney for the goodies for our Try & Test area. Make sure you come along to splash some paint around on our papers!






Wednesday 5 July 2017

TH Saunders
(19 September 1813 – 5 February 1870)

Thomas Harry Saunders was a British paper-maker known especially for his watermarks, he was also a philanthropist.


Watermark at St Cuthberts Mill (2017)


He was the youngest child of hoop-maker John Saunders. He began a career in paper-making in his twenties, and became a partner in a paper mill in 1840.

TH Saunders won many international exhibitions for his light and shade watermarks. He created a business of six paper mills, one of them being Phoenix Mill at Dartford in Kent.


Watermark at St Cuthberts Mill (2017)

TH Saunders was a member of the Royal Society of Arts.


TH Saunders is still a registered trademark for drawing and watercolour paper, now produced as Saunders Waterford paper at St Cuthberts Mill.