Textile artist Linda Walsh will host an exhibition of her new art called Russian Treasures.


Following a recent trip to Russia, Linda is continuing her exploration of the art and architecture of the places she visited with her own take on Russian images.


While cruising on the waterways between St Petersburg and Moscow last year for her 40th wedding anniversary, Linda took an array of photographs of everything from distant panoramas of dome-filled cities to tiny details on a window surround.


She has been sifting through these to build a feeling for the colours, patterns and textures that sum up the Russia she saw. These ideas are emerging as an enthralling variety of textile wall pieces. 


Most of Linda’s work is based on photographs and then printed on to fabrics or textured papers, but that is just the start.


She then burrows in her huge collection of fragments of silk, chiffon, nets, threads, wools and beads and a selection of these are applied to the simple fabric print. The result is a piece that reflects those initial thoughts about what Russia looks like.


Linda said: “Although I use all the photos and my sewing machine, where I really get my kicks is in pulling a needle and thread through fabric. There is always some hand-stitching in everything I do.”


Last year, Linda was selected as runner up for Baines Surrey Artist of the Year, following a vote by visitors to her studio in Thames Ditton and a finalists’ exhibition at the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham.


Russian Treasures will be at the Fountain Gallery, East Molesey, from Tuesday, August 28, until Sunday, September 9. The gallery is open from 11.30am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Sunday and is closed Monday.