An exhibition which pays tribute to Joss Naylor and all Lakeland fellrunners has opened at the Old School Room tea shop at Rydal Hall near Ambleside.
The work by Cark-in-Cartmel artist Elizabeth Shorrock features her distinctive sculptural books, fold-out maps and mixed media collages to present a fascinating perspective on fellrunning achievements.
There are hand-drawn folding concertina outline maps of iconic fell races including those at Borrowdale, Dunnerdale, Ennerdale, Langdale, Coledale and the Three Shires.
Collages such as the “Lakes Waters and Meres” exhibit feature footprints to highlight the routes taken by Joss Naylor on some of his Lakeland epic runs. There’s also an unusual recycled print tray filled with tiny mixed media tributes to Joss’s achievements.
The intricately-detailed work is all the more remarkable because Shorrocks has never tackled a fell race herself. “I’ve been walking in these hills since I was 19 but the thought of running up one, let alone a whole succession of them, filled me with awe,” she says.
“The work for this exhibition is based on Joss’s career. I went to fell races, talked to runners, but drew the line at joining in.
“I wanted my work to tell some of the stories and to pay tribute to this amazing man and to all those who run – or walk – the fells.”
A member of the Green Door artist collective, Shorrock specialises in creating in handmade books – sketchbooks and notebooks for practical use – but her main focus is on using different folding methods to create sculptural artists’ books. “I am fascinated by the many ways 2D sheets of paper can be turned into 3D structures.”
The exhibition runs until the end of April. The Old School Room tea shop is open every day except Christmas Day from 10am, serving sandwiches, soups and home-made cakes.
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