Cindy-Lou Thompson
March 2026 IFA Region 8 Exhibition, Harding Gallery, Lincoln.
I was invited to be a part of Region 8’s first exhibition, also my first exhibition. It was all very exciting and wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of Karen and Jo, who organised and set up everything. I can’t thank them enough for their long hours and hard work, to get this professional exhibition up and running for us all.
There were 18 members who contributed, it has to be said, some truly fantastic pieces of art! I was in awe of the level of craftsmanship and imagination and I am not new to felting but it was truly impressed.
Some works leaned into surrealism, while others played with exaggerated shapes and unexpected combinations, proving that wool can be just as expressive and colourful as other forms of art.
There’s something quietly magical about felting in all its forms. From wet felting, needle felting, 3D to 2D “paintings,” realistic, contemporary, experimental to whimsical, there’s something for all tastes. I think this became apparent as the visitors started to arrive, with many in shock and awe at the wonderful pieces they were presented with. Some walked in silent contemplation, whilst others were full of questions and praise and left some good comments in the comment book too!
“Wow, what an inspiration this visit has been. Such wonderful pieces of work. I didn’t want to leave.”
“Absolutely outstanding work, you are all so incredibly talented. Well done girls!”
“So interesting to see how many different ways of using felt, from clothing, pictures, pets to sculptures and bags. Really lovely exhibition.”
One of the most enjoyable parts of the exhibition was watching people’s reactions. Some were completely captivated by the realism of the animals on display, whilst others were drawn to the quirky and unpredictable nature of the contemporary work, and many found themselves quietly absorbed in the landscapes. It turns out that wool, despite its ancient and humble beginnings, has over the centuries, with the 20thC addition of felting needles, modern sewing machines and additional extras, such as adhesives, wire, colouring, gone though quite a range of transformative techniques.
There was plenty of curiosity about the different processes, with many having no idea how the pieces were made. The exhibition wasn’t just about showing finished work, it was about celebrating the creativity, skill, and slightly obsessive dedication behind each piece.
One particular visitor a very dapper gentleman, who was a lover of art, came and chatted with us. He told us of this art collection and as we got deeper into conversation, he suggested we wouldn’t be able to know what his unusual job was. We asked him for a clue and he told us he was a ‘Convincer’ and there were only 47 of them in the country, of which he was the top man and his apprenticeship was 7 years! I asked if he worked for the government and he told us he did. So I suggested he could be a negotiator or an economic hitman! He chuckled a bit and said he wasn’t, but knew what they were. He went on to say he had been on the news, in newspapers many times, but always in the background and added he was a ‘dactylographer.’
“Fingers” I exclaimed, but couldn’t get further than that. Karen suggested finger prints and she was right. He was a very highly coveted forensic scientist who specialised in finger prints and his ‘convincing’ was done in courts of law! This got me thinking, that finger prints leave a trail of evidence and markings, a signature if you like, which had been translated into all the artists’ work for the exhibition. Their hands shaped and marked their art like no other. Their results convinced the admirer of what they were looking at or took them on a journey of discovery. Many people can recognise an artists’ work by sight, because they develop over time, a style that shines through into memory and imagination.
My contributions, a German Shepherd Guide Dog, a Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) and a Corgi gained a lot of attention. Lois an artist from the main shop downstairs came to tell me that she was telling a visitor to go an look at my Guide Dog. The lady duly came upstairs and had a look, then later went and told Lois that the Guide Dog was incredible, especially since the artist was blind! Lois said she didn’t have the heart to correct her. We have had quite a few overseas visitors to the exhibition too, which had me wondering if any of the exhibits might be travelling abroad. I was rather shocked when before the exhibition, I counted up how many countries my dogs had been exported to and it amounted to 22, just a couple less than I have actually visited myself!
As more people discover felting in all its forms, it is pushing the boundaries of the medium, using abstract forms, unexpected colour palettes, and mixed techniques to challenge traditional perceptions and it’s exciting to see just how far it can go. Whether it’s a lifelike dog that looks ready to wag its tail, an abstract sculpture that sparks conversation, or a soft, wool-painted landscape, this exhibition aimed to show that with enough wool—and a lot of patience—you can create with your hands, just about anything.
Article by Cindy-Lou Thompson