Colour, Naturally

An exhibition about natural dyes

17 July - 25 September 2021

We all love colour! Since the dawn of time, mankind has used colour to enhance the world around using whatever materials are available. The items in this exhibition are all coloured using natural sources: plants, minerals and insects.

The full spectrum available to us from our environment was the source of every painting, fabric, ink, pottery glaze, artificial hair colour, make-up and tattoo that existed until William Henry Perkin discovered the first commercially successful synthetic dye in 1856.

The wonder of and appreciation for natural colours has survived from our earliest ancestors until the present day as environmental concerns have caused us to look again at the potential we have beneath our feet and in our gardens. We hope you will enjoy discovering that natural dyes can be vibrant, fast and beautiful.

Exhibition images by Louis Victory

Watch the recent interview between The Loom Shed and the curator of the Colour, Naturally exhibition, Jane Deane…

Video sourced from The Loom Shed