DES Talks

Welcome to DES Talks, a podcast that celebrates creative ideas and energy. In this episode Susanna meets the artist Clare Woods in the garden of her studio in north Herefordshire. They talk about her recent collaboration with Edinburgh's Dovecot tapestry studio to weave three tapestries. Entitled The Smotherers, The Take Over and The Volunteers, the tapestries are woven in a wondrous array of greens and depict intensely beautiful undergrowth and weeds. They are soon to go on display at London's Garden Museum.

Clare who initially studied sculpture is a celebrated artist. Her luscious paintings of fulsome flower arrangements and aged planters filled with wayward unkempt plants, celebrate both beauty and decay. Clare talks about her process of making - she paints on the horizontal rather than vertical -  the joy of colour and her collaboration with Dovecot.

Clare is also currently showing a painting in Earth Matters, an exhibition curated by Susanna and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh at Inverleith House. She has a solo show at Pitzhanger Manor, London runs until 8 November. Threads of Ascent: Tapestries by Clare Woods is at the Garden Museum from 9 October to 5 November.

Dovecot, a tapestry studio in the heart of Edinburgh. Founded in the early 20th century and very much inspired by the Arts and Crafts powerhouse William Morris, today Dovecot is celebrated for its ambitious collaborations with leading contemporary artists, such as Linder, Alberta Whittle and Chris Ofili to create outstanding tapestries. Do tune into our podcast Exploring Dovecot to hear Clare in conversation with Dovecot's director Celia Joicey and master weaver, Naomi Robertson.

Dovecot Studios
Clare Woods
Garden Museum
Earth Matter Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Pitzhanger Manor

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of DES Talks, we do hope you enjoyed it. Please do spread the word, share, subscribe and rate and rave - we really want to share these conversations far and wide! 

And don’t forget to explore our previous podcasts such as our visit to the Pier Arts Centre in Orkney, our conversation with Viv Lee and Jonathan Wade talking clay and the making of Earth Becoming for Earth Matters or Susanna's chat with celebrated film maker Mark Cousins about his film, A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things celebrating the artist, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham. 

Huge thanks to musician Malin Lewis for Cycle Lane which accompanies DES Talks and Ryan Scott Media for production. 

Image Clare Woods by Susanna Beaumont 

Creators and Guests

SB
Host
Susanna Beaumont
ML
Composer
Malin Lewis
Malin Lewis is an award-winning piper, fiddler, composer and instrument-maker from Moidart and Skye. They marry deep traditional roots with adventurous innovation – not least as maker of a unique 2-octave version of the Scottish smallpipes.
Producer
Ryan Scott
Multimedia Content Producer based in Edinburgh and Fife.

What is DES Talks?

Susanna Beaumont's lively exploration of making and creating. She talks ideas and inspiration, materials and process and the joy of creativity with brilliant artists, makers and designers from across Scotland.

https://www.designexhibitionscotland.co.uk/