Cornish crafts inspired by 125 years of the National Trust

View of Trelissick house and parkland with cows grazing

Trelissick has invited the talented members of the Cornwall Crafts Association to present their work in an exhibition of uniquely personal art exploring the significance of special places the National Trust looks after.

The National Trust has inspired generations of people over the 125 years it has cared for historic and natural environments.The works on display in this exhibition take inspiration from the landscapes, wildlife and architecture that surrounds us. Each artist has drawn from their own experiences and emotional connection to these spaces and employed their crafting talents to create a piece that reflects this.

Ceramicists, silversmiths, printmakers, jewellers, and much more will exhibit their diverse pieces in Trelissick house from March 14 to November 15 2020. The exhibition is open 11am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm) every day; admission charges apply, entry and parking is free to members of the National Trust.

These short films provide insight into a few of the crafts and craftmakers behind the exhibition. Tap the images to play the videos.

A selection of handcrafted automata made by Esther Smith Play Video
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Esther Smith

Esther makes automata, tableaux and jewellery in copper, silver and brass. Here she explains her craft and the inspiration she has drawn from immersing herself in the natural spaces looked after by the National Trust. Her piece of work for the exhibition endeavours to capture that sense of wellbeing that immersion in nature brings and how important caring for these spaces is for us and for wildlife.

Silversmithed feather and oak leaf by Maria Mayle Play Video
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Maria Mayle

Maria is a silversmith who makes jewellery from silver, gold and other precious metals and stones. Her exhibition piece is a celebration of the habitats the National Trust protects and helps thrive. Here she explains how she incorporates the diversity of landscapes and wildlife the National Trust look after in her multi-layered piece.

Printmaker Suzy Sharpe cuts out a lino print Play Video
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Suzy Sharpe

Suzy is a Painter and printmaker who creates unique one-off pieces with a fresh contemporary twist, inspired by the local landscape poetry and the experience of spending time with wildlife in our modern world. For this exhibition, inspired by many visits to Trelissick, Suzy created a series of linocuts and an artist's book in which she celebrates the work of National Trust protecting spaces for those who don’t have a voice: wildlife, especially the birds which are abundant throughout the Trelissick estate.

Ceramics by Paula Downing Play Video
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Paula Downing

Paula Downing is a ceramicist inspired by the way the sea has sculpted powerful profiles where the land meets the sea. Her piece 'Furvyans' was inspired by rock formations from Godrevy and on West Penwith. Here she explains how she is eternally grateful to the National Trust for making wild and wonderful places like these accessible to the public.