By Jan Calvert
An array of talent was on display at Sunny Bank Mills’ Print Festival in Farsley.
The annual event over the weekend of 7 and 8 March celebrated local artists and printers and included a print fair, workshops and artists’ open studios.
It is the largest print fair in Leeds and features the work of over 60 artists each day. The main festival is set within the magnificent 1912 Mill, which was buzzing with interest and inspiration.
Louise Traill, contemporary maker and artist, creates lamp and light shades from her screen prints. Inspired by folk art and the colours and imagery of the 1960’s art world, her patterns are delightful, psychedelic scenes of birds, trees and plants.
Louise explained that she creates her designs in stages.
“I draw the black and white copy in fine liner pen and ink then expose it onto the screen-printing screen””, she said. “Using lots of small screens allows me to create layers and three-dimensional images.”
Her lampshade, ‘Forest Walk’ was initially printed onto a long, horizontal piece and the circular shade follows a journey through a magical forest. Her vibrant and colourful ‘Trip to the East’ was inspired by her travels in Thailand.
Louise, who works as a lecturer in art and design, is experimenting with printed wooden layers, intuitively placed, creating unique handmade designs.
She said: “I’ve always loved the Farsley Print Festival and I’m delighted to display my designs here.”
Tall Paul Kelly studied Graphic Design at the University of Leeds. He is a local illustrator and designer and creates elegant and modern printed images of place scenes.
His poster print ‘Takayana’, was inspired by seeing a white heron fishing whilst on his honeymoon in the Gifu Province, Japan.
He said: “The screen prints are created from light to dark, the print is on white paper and the cream layer is first, followed by the blue, red then black.”
Irina Lomash displayed her work for the first time in the ’Emerging Artists’ area. She graduated with an MA in Fine Art in November 2025 from Leeds Arts University.
The project was inspired by her young daughter, who led her through a thicket in Middleton Woods into a lost world of childhood wonder.
Her prints are based around a theme of swans, a metaphor for childhood memories and forgotten childhood dreams. They are a very moving display of her emerging talent.
The festival attracted a large number of local people who enjoyed the talent on display and the many workshops on offer. The annual event supports the running of the Sunny Bank Mills Arts & Heritage programme. It is an asset to our West Leeds Community to have such a thriving and well organised centre for art and culture.
- Information about future events at Sunny Bank Mills can be found here.
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