Jane Firth of Ullswater Felt Art is joining The Wool Clip as its latest new member. Jane's needle-felted portraits of animals, particularly sheep, were displayed at The Wool Clip as a Spotlight on a local artist in September 2021 but she is now joining the Cumbrian co-operative as a member.

Jane started felting after a career in education that had taken her to Hong Kong, China and Tanzania. She moved to Cumbria in 2013 and was inspired by the area's long history of sheep farming and its native hill breeds of sheep. Although Herdwicks are still amongst her most popular subjects, Jane is also working through the Rare Breed Survival Trust's (RBST) watchlist of different animals, developing a range of Lakeland landscape images and she also creates one-off commissions for animal owners.

"Needle felting is an ideal medium to capture the textures and colours that characterise animals in the landscape and I enjoy trying to use the actual fleeces of the animals I'm portraying whenever that's possible."

Jane Firth, The Wool Clip and Ullswater Felt Art

"Over the years, my work on the red list breeds has covered many different sheep, goats, ponies and cows but I've not felted any pigs so far. The Cumbrian fell ponies, with their local connections, have proved very popular and I am sure I'll work on more horse breeds in future."

"As well as being a member of the RBST," says Jane, "I am also involved in the Hare Preservation Trust, Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group and Cumbria Wildlife Trust. I love the fact that I can use my work to raise awareness of the need to preserve the habitat of these animals as well as the rare native breeds."

Alice Underwood of The Wool Clip met Jane through the Cumbria Support Group of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST): "We share a passion for these native breeds, especially the sheep, and Jane's work and interests make her a great fit for The Wool Clip co-operative. We're keen to attract new members with quality work that adds something a bit different to our current range so I hope that Jane joining us will help in promoting that opportunity to other local craftspeople."

Jane will be working on her pictures on the days when she's in The Wool Clip shop and looks forward to talking about her techniques as well as her subjects with visitors. "I am also going to more events and demonstrating my work but the needle felting and embellishing that people see is actually the final stage of a much longer process."

A selection of Jane's framed needle-felted animal portraits and landscapes are now on sale at The Wool Clip at Caldbeck and she also sells coasters and printed cards featuring her work.

More information about Jane and her work is online at www.ullswaterfeltart.com and on Facebook.