A glass act

Local artist Carole Waller is well known for her wearable art and has been painting directly onto silk – to create a washable painting with incredible richness of mark and colour – since 1986.

As well creating bespoke garments inspired by the city for people to wear, Carole’s been using her unique etching process on painted silk viscose fabric which is then laminated in between toughened glass. And it’s these unique glass works that were commissioned for some of the bedrooms and spa at No.15 Great Pulteney. “The fabric is partly opaque and partly transparent,” says Carole, “which is what gives it that very interesting quality when it’s laminated between the glass. That idea of using it in the bedrooms was fantastic, because it partially obscures the view and stops people being able to see in, while also making a wonderful feature which looks fantastic in the light.”

It’s a process Carole began 10 years’ ago, when she was first commissioned by the Forestry Commission for a garden exhibition at Westonbirt and was awarded a grant from the Arts Council for research and development to create something with a sense of translucency and fragility, that was also tough enough to be outside. “It’s the same technology that they use for car windscreens,” says Carole.

She’s since made pieces for local arts centres, hospitals and schools, as well as private commissions for people’s homes. She’s even loaned us a lovely triptych for the garden, which should it catch your eye, is yours to buy for £9,500.
www.carolewaller.co.uk