Introducing some of the faces behind our beautiful thimble designs . . .
. . . .
Sally Eagleton
Sally comes originally from Birmingham, but has lived near Biggar in
South Lanarkshire for many years. She has been drawing since she was a
child and art was her favourite subject at school, but a change in
family fortunes meant that plans for her to go to college had to be
abandoned. Undaunted, she has continued to paint all her life, passing
on her skill and enthusiasm to her children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. She became the Thimble Guild’s ‘Artist in
Residence’ at the end of 2004 and has been able to indulge her passion
for the Classics in three recent major collections - The Bible Stories
Series, The Works of William Shakespeare and The Peter Pan Collection.
Val de Vries
Val has been hand painting thimbles for the Guild for the past five
years, working from her studio in Clare, South Australia, and keeping us
well-supplied with a variety of charming designs, from flowers and fruit
to snowmen, winter scenes and her stunning Patchwork Collection, based
on traditional quilting patterns from around the world. Val has been
painting porcelain for the past 21 years, teaches regularly and has
exhibited her work widely, including two one-woman shows. Admirers of
her work include Irish singing stars Daniel O’Donnell and Foster &
Allen. “I am delighted that my work is displayed in homes around the
world,” says Val. “Porcelain Art is my occupation, my hobby, my life. I
am at my happiest when I am painting.”
Lee Sanders
Lee’s distinctive floral designs on porcelain are regularly featured in
the Thimble Guild’s monthly collections. The Australian artist is based
in Adelaide and is renowned for her thimble-painting skills - her pieces
have been purchased by the Australian Government to give as souvenirs to
visiting VIPs!
Derek Wilson & Sheila Whitcombe
Derek and Sheila worked together at Royal Worcester and now run Dunheved
China from their base near Launceston in Cornwall, lovingly creating
their own bone china miniatures. Derek concentrates on wildlife
portraits - he’s a keen ornithologist - while Sheila specialises in
flowers, and their charming freehand paintings make each one of their
thimbles unique.
Rachel Pugh
Rachel Pugh was our in house artist for five years. She originally comes
from Cumbria, but for much of her adult life has lived in Cyprus with her
husband Simon who is in the RAF. Rachel is known for her bold use of
colours, inspired by the bright Mediterranean life. Rachel in her time
with The Thimble Guild, has created many fabulous series and some stunning
hand painted thimbles.
