Fleece to Fibre from Dovecot Studios at The Fleming Collection

‘Large Tree Group’ is a touring tapestry made at Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh based on a 1975 painting by Victoria Crowe. The textile is on display in Fleece to Fibre: the making of The Large Tree Group Tapestry at The Fleming Collection, London to 14 January 2015.

‘Large Tree Group’ is a touring tapestry made at Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh based on a 1975 painting by Victoria Crowe. The textile is on display in Fleece to Fibre: the making of The Large Tree Group Tapestry at The Fleming Collection, London to 14 February 2015.

The third venue of three on a touring exhibition, this venue is widely regarded to hold the finest private collection of Scottish art. Prior to being shown here, the tapestry travelled to the Australian Tapestry Workshop, Melbourne, Australia and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Scotland.

Victoria Crowe, Large Tree Group, woven by Dovecot Studios, 2013 © Victoria Crowe/Dovecot Studios Ltd. 2012 Photo: Michael Wolchover. The Large Tree Group Tapestry has been acquired and gifted to National Museums Scotland by Sir Angus Grossart.

Dovecot Studios was founded in 1912 and recently won the ‘Luxury Craftsmanship’ award at the 2014 Walpole British Luxury Awards in association with Coutts. This tapestry is the first to be created at the studio entirely out of un-dyed British wool. The exhibition showcases the work itself as well as the process behind the project from sheep to yarn to artwork. Seventy producers across Britain supplied the wool from a wide range of sheep breeds and various individuals, groups and commercial operations spun the yarn. Masterweavers worked in close collaboration with the artist to create the tapestry. A series of photographic portraits accompanies the work by Alicia Bruce that celebrate the diversity of those who have been involved.

Left to right, weavers Freya Sewell, David Cochrane, Jonathan Cleaver, Naomi Robertson, Emily Fogarty, 2013 © Alicia Bruce