About Teesdale Felt
About Claire – The Artist Behind Teesdale Felt
Creativity, connection and the joy of making something unique.
Claire is the founder of Teesdale Felt, an independent creative business inspired by a love of colour, texture, nature and the endless possibilities of felt making. Based in the beautiful Teesdale area, Claire is a felt artist, experienced tutor and workshop facilitator who is passionate about sharing her skills and helping others discover the joy of creativity.
Following a long career as a primary school teacher, Claire established Teesdale Felt seven years ago, turning her creative passion into a thriving business. Her teaching background continues to shape her approach: she creates welcoming, supportive workshops where people can experiment, learn new skills and take pride in what they make, whatever their age, ability or previous experience.
Claire works with both individuals and groups, delivering a varied programme of creative workshops, demonstrations and talks. Her felt-making projects include colourful wet-felted landscapes and seascapes, illuminated felt bowls, floral brooches and needle-felted decorations. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, local landscapes, wildlife and places visited through travel, she encourages participants to explore their own ideas and develop their individual creative style.
Community and collaboration are at the heart of Claire’s work. She has worked with a wide range of community, arts and environmental organisations, including Northern Heartlands, UTASS, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rural Arts and Highlights Rural Touring. Her projects often bring people together through shared creative experiences, with a particular emphasis on making art accessible and enjoyable for everyone. She has facilitated workshops for people living with dementia, learning difficulties, anxiety and social isolation, adapting activities to meet different needs and abilities.
Recent work includes collaborating with children from a federation of schools in Teesside to create six banners, taking inspiration from the artwork of British artist Lucy Pittaway. This collaborative project reflects Claire’s belief that creativity can bring people together, build confidence and give participants a shared sense of achievement.
Alongside her practical workshops, Claire is an experienced speaker and demonstrator. She has delivered talks and demonstrations for craft groups, including the Embroiderers’ Guild, and spoken to local business groups about her journey of turning a hobby into a successful creative enterprise. She also shares her knowledge through online felting tutorials on the Teesdale Felt YouTube channel, helping people explore felt making in their own time and at their own pace.
Claire’s work has reached audiences beyond the local area. She has exhibited at Bowlees Visitors Centre and The Witham Hall, and her work has featured in the Australian felting magazine Felt. She has also delivered a felting retreat for students visiting from the United States. Her creative business and community engagement have been recognised through being shortlisted twice for the Teesdale Business Awards, in the categories of Best Community Engagement and Best Customer Focus, as well as being named a finalist in Lancashire Artist of the Year 2024.
When she isn’t creating or teaching, Claire enjoys hill walking, travelling and paddle boarding — interests that continually inspire her appreciation of landscapes, colour and the natural environment.
Through Teesdale Felt, Claire brings together her love of art, her experience as an educator and her belief in the positive power of creativity. Whether leading a community project, teaching a first-time felt maker, demonstrating her techniques or developing a collaborative artwork, her aim is always the same: to make creativity accessible, meaningful and enjoyable.
Discover the possibilities of felt making with Teesdale Felt — where imagination, colour and creativity come together.
Kirkcarrion Gallery