Welcome to York Art Workers Association

The York Art Workers' Association is an eclectic group of craftsmen, artists, conservators, academics and others who share a serious interest in the arts. Members represent architectural craftsmanship, other applied arts, all fine arts, architecture and conservation. We welcome not only practitioners in these fields, whether amateur or professional, but anyone with a keen interest or appreciation of art and design. We exist to extend and share our knowledge and experience through a widely varied programme of monthly talks, normally on the first Monday of the month (doors open at 7pm, meetings start at 7.30). We also organise occasional courses, workshops, outings and social events. Our talks are open to anyone.

We meet at Southlands Methodist Church, Bishopthorpe Road, York YO23 1NX. There is parking at the church, on nearby streets and in the local car park by the shops, a few minutes' walk away. There is cycle parking too and it is on a bus route. There is level access and the meeting room is on the ground floor.

Admission: members £3, non members £7.

There is no need to book, please feel free to just turn up! If you would like to know more about the association, please email info@yorkartworkers.org.uk, or come to the next meeting; we will be very pleased to see you.

Download a PDF of this year’s programme here - for more information on each speaker please see the Events Calendar

Claire Wellesley-Smith

Textile Artist

Monday 5th October

Claire Wellesley-Smith is an artist, researcher and writer based in Bradford. She delivers long-term socially engaged arts and heritage-based projects with community and care-focussed organisations, with a particular emphasis on working alongside underserved communities.

"I am an artist, researcher and writer based in Bradford,West Yorkshire, UK. My projects are situated within arts, heritage and community wellbeing. The ability of textile to transform and connect over time informs my studio, community and research practices.

My work has a strong sense of place and I use location,urban green spaces, cultural heritage and collections as inspiration. I have a longitudinal approach to process and materials and consider growing, making,unmaking and remaking as intrinsic to my work. I research, write, develop,deliver and evaluate long-term socially engaged arts and heritage-based projects with community and care focussed organisations, with a particular emphasis on working alongside underserved communities. Funders of this work include Kings Fund, Arts Council England, Mind, The Henry Smith Charity, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, National Lottery Heritage Fund and NHS foundation trusts.My doctoral research project Crafting Resilience: Cultural heritage and community engagement in post-industrial textile communities (2022) with The Open University was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Following an Economic and Social Research Council postdoctoral research fellowship in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies also at The Open University I am currently a Visiting Fellow there.

I have written and edited several books, including Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art (2015) and Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art (2021) published by Batsford. Both feature my durational project Stitch Journal a daily reflective stitching practice now in its tenth year.”

https://www.clairewellesleysmith.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/cwellesleysmith/

Rose Ferraby

Archaeologist and artist

Monday 2nd November

Rose is an archaeologist and artist based in North Yorkshire. Her work often explores the relationship between people and landscape through time. She is interested in how creative practice can be used to communicate subtle understandings of archaeology to wider audiences. She works across painted collage, printmaking, illustration, film and sound, and has been commissioned by projects and organisations including the British Museum and Ulster Museum, and she has curated ‘Downland’ at the Wiltshire Museum. Rose also works on nature recovery projects. Communication is at the heart of Rose’s work, ranging from creating artwork, illustrating and designing books, writing,and broadcasting for BBC Radio. She has created work for museums, heritage organisations and research projects, and is an experienced leader of creative workshops with adults and children.

She is interested in how to tell different stories about the past; how to inspire people and create ways in which they can imagine past and future worlds. She enjoys collaborations that bring together different skills,research and approaches.

Rose’s work is trans-disciplinary, drawing on research and practice in archaeology, geology, ecology and nature recovery, and art. She uses these skills together to carry out a range of ongoing research projects and commissions. These include work with Knepp Wilding, Hepple Wilding, the National Trust, and the National Museum of Northern Ireland. In 2025 she will be creating and curating "Downland: art and the archaeological imagination" in Wiltshire at the Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.

She has a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology (University of Cambridge), an MFA in Illustration (Edinburgh College of Art) and a PhD(University of Exeter). Rose is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. https://roseferraby.com/

Come and Join Us

Where, when and how much?

All events are on the first Monday of the month unless otherwise stated.

Events start at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm – please aim to be seated by 7.15pm.

Admission: members £3, non members £7. Half price for students. The fee for membership for 2026-7 is £22

Membership and programme enquiries to: info@yorkartworkers.org.uk