The Leitrim Design House, The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim
If you are unable to get to The Leitrim Design House to view our members’ fabulous exhibition, we are delighted to bring the work here to you
In alphabetical order of the artist …
DAISY CHAIN by KAREN BOWDEN – Daisies embody nature’s quiet resilience, blooming with simple beauty across fields, gardens and roadsides. Their bright petals surround golden centres, welcoming pollinators and symbolising renewal, balance and hope. Unpretentious yet enduring, they remind us that life’s greatest wonders often flourish in nature.BLOOMIN’ FELT by CLIONA BROWNE – Inspired by wild flowers, Bloomin’ Felt is my first flower inspired felting attempt. I’m just putting down roots, growing my skills and having a blooming good time blending these fibres together.THE BURREN IN SPRING by LORNA CADY – As soon as I knew of the theme – Essence of Nature – the idea came to me to represent the Burren, with harsh grey rocks from which grow beautiful delicate flowers. I am very happy I was able to translate my ideas into the finished work!EVENING SHADES by PATRICIA CONROY – The Essence of Nature I feel is about the beauty, colour changes, balance and power that surrounds us. It is spiritual and about the emotions it provokes.LAMB IN THE MEADOW by LINDA COSTELLO – If the Irish farmer embraces nature friendly farming they will benefit greatly and nature can be preserved for future generations. The wool used is naturally dyed from my flock.AFTER THE FIRE … NEW LIFE by AILEEN COURTNEY – The work represents my interpretation of the fire that took place in 2025 and subsequent regrowth at Creggameen bog. This is a Special Heritage Area due to the unique collection of plants growing there. Spring 2026 showed the resilience of this unique environment with an abundance of bog cotton, grasses and wildflowers.OCTOPUS’ GARDEN by MARIA COX – Inspired by the mystery and movement of the ocean, this piece celebrates the wild beauty of nature beneath the waves. The octopus reaches through flowing coral and sea plants, symbolising curiosity, connection, and resilience. Through soft fibres and organic forms, I wanted to capture a world that feels both fragile and full of life.SAVING THE CURLEW by ADRIENNE DEMPSEY – I created this piece inspired by the essence of nature and the Curlew bird, which took part in the Curlew Conservation Programme in Leitrim. The programme focuses on protecting Curlew nesting attempts and improving habitat quality by working closely with landowners, local communities and conservation teams.FLORA NA BPORTACK by MARIE DUNNE – My work is always inspired by the natural world. Being a mixed media artist allows me to explore a variety of materials. Working with wool is one of my favourites. My creative practice includes felting, free motion embroidery both hand and machine stitch.LIFE ON LAND by SAMANTHA FAGAN – I have used the natural texture of both Irish grown wool and soft Merino in both wet and needle felting to capture the warmth and simplicity of nature seeking to reflect the calm connection between land and life.NATURE’S BOUNTY by RAMONA FARRELLY – Nature is the beauty that surrounds us and lifts our souls. Something as small and colourful as a caterpillar making its way along a tree branch or as big as a mountain full of crags made more visible by the setting sun. The colours and shapes, the movement of wildlife and natural phenomena, the textures, all of these elements are part of the essence of nature.ECHOES IN PEAT by JOANNE FOLEY – The essence of nature, for me, lies in the quiet beauty of the Irish bog. It is a landscape shaped by time, weather and resilience. Using layers of merino wool, I wanted to capture its ever-changing light, rich textures and the sense of stillness and connection it inspires.HARMONY by ANANYA GUPTA – “Harmony” celebrates the connection between honey bees and flowers, inspired by the balance of nature. It highlights the essential role of bees in pollination, helping flowers bloom and supporting biodiversity. This artwork encourages appreciation and protection of honey bees, whose survival is vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems and nature’s delicate balance.WHAT THE MIST REVEALED by SIOBHAN HEALY RYAN – As the early morning mist rose from the shore of Clew Bay, so was revealed the soft, muted hues of its landscape. The essence of nature can be revealed at first light and its form and colour emerge at dawn.ALL THE COLOURS OF THE BOG by URSULA HEITING -WEISE – Felted landscape inspired by the Donegal landscape, mountains, bogs, and small water bodies. Merino wool is layered onto a white base of Donegal mountain sheep wool, creating soft textures and fine linear structures. The piece reflects the quiet interconnectedness of natural environments.LONICERA HENRYII by CHRISTINE HENRY – I’ve been fascinated by the healing qualities of Nature and her plants for many years. Essence of Honeysuckle is a remedy for those lost in the past, helping them move on and take joy from the present and into the future. This variety was discovered in China by my great great uncle, and it reminds me how one person’s passion can seed joy for generations to come.FROM THE SAME EARTH by CORINA HOGAN – Combining the Essence of Human and Nature in one mutated hand. My Interpretation is that we are all part of Nature. Humans/Aminals and Plantation alike. We all need the same things to survive.FLOWING WATER by KATARINA HRUSKOVA – Water is the essence of life. This piece is needle felted using Galway and Belclare woolTHE SOFT POWER OF THE ELEMENTS by VICTOR HURTOVYI – My goal is to bring the ocean depths to life in the soft fibers of natural wool. Nature is the most harmonious entity on Earth. Humanity needs to learn not to conquer it, but to live in cooperation with it.MIDLANDS, MARCH AT DUSK by HELEN KIERSEY – My work portrays the subtle essence of the beauty of nature. The colours and textures that were captured in a photo inspired me to make this work.CLONYCAVAN MAN by LAUREN KIRWAN – I interpreted ‘The Essence of Nature’ being the cyclical exchange of nutrients and energy within an ecosystem, never truly disappearing. We take from the land and return to it when we die. The bog body’s skin is quite literally infused with the essence of the natural bog around him; turf sinking into an immortal corporeal form.SPRING BLOSSOMS by FIONA LEECH – My interpretation of the theme is the joy of the first blossoms appearing in spring. The greens represent the constant landscape with the vibrancy of the pink blossoms showing a welcome contrast after a dark winter.BY THE SHANNON by TAMZEN LUNDY – This small landscape depicts two sheep grazing on the banks of the Shannon. Where the land meets the river. The process of felt making using water and wool, reflects the natural imagery shown in this landscape. This piece is of the land it also reflects.THREADS IN NATURE by SANDRA MARSCHALL – Natural life and renewal is the essence of natureHERON’S VIEW by MAGGIE McCARTNEY – Heron’s View is a reflection of the stillness of nature, like a meditation. Observing the space quietly in the gentle presence of nature.WALK IN THE WOODS by CLAIRE MERRY – Nature is all around us and there is no better place to experience it than in the woods, where one is surrounded by trees, plants, animals, insects and flowers, living in harmony.SAND AND SEA by LIDIIA NECHEPORENKO – Ocean waters are the cradle of life on Earth. Water not only captivates us with its beauty and power but is also a fundamental condition for the very essence of nature and life. In my work, I wanted to show the beauty of the ocean depths and the inviting warmth of the golden sand.DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN by EITHNE O’DEA – The theme evokes images of colour and joy initially, and then concerns about our impact on the planet….The simplified graphic image and the use of colour, both bright and dull have been used to conveys this. The dull, darker grey elements represent humans impact on the planet, along with the oversized sun and the clouds above. Scraps of leftover wool yarn, tweed scraps from a skirt, and prefelt off cuts from other pieces have been used showing how small action of reusing is so important for the health of the planet.WOODLAND WALK by ELIZABETH REDDING – A walk through the woods brings you close to nature. It is very peaceful listening to the birds singing, bees buzzing, seeing the many creatures who live there, smelling the woodland flowers and trees.MYCELIUM – NATURE’S ESSENCE by BELINDA REID – The earth’s subterranean nervous system – a sprawling, hidden web of microscopic threads that weave through the dark soil.MONET’S GARDEN by SANDRA REYNOLDS – My interpretation on the theme inspired by water life and light perspective and the use of impression in art.PRIMORDIAL by KARENA RYAN – Primordial explores The Essence of Nature through our ancient connection to water, the cradle of life. Blurring the boundaries between ocean, cell and cosmos, the work imagines an otherworldly landscape where life begins. Through layered wool, hand embroidery and beadwork, it reflects nature’s enduring capacity for creation, transformation and renewal.GENESIS by EGLE SILENAITE-ENYED – This artwork visualizes the universe’s quietest explosion: a single seed bursting into existence. Through the rich, organic texture of wool, I wanted to portray the exact moment a seed cracks open—not just as a botanical event, but as the raw, unstoppable momentum that defines the very essence of nature.THE GREEN MAN by SHEILA SWEENEY – The eternal cycle birth, regeneration, growth,death and decay in nature is symbolised by the image of the green man. He is depiction as a human face surrounded by leaves and vines, a reminder or our relationship to nature and our willingness to embrace. He is the very essence of nature that breathes life into our fields, woods and hedgerows every year.SIONNACH SNA DUILLEOGA by DANIELLE THUILLIER – With the transition to Lughnasa approaching and looking forward to the gathering of the first fruits, there’s no mystical Irish creature more adept at making the most of harvesting the abundance of the land than the beautiful fox.LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW by ASTRID TOMROP-HOFMANN – For me, the essence of nature has the gift of highlighting the beauty, diversity and the balance of the environment. Understanding the world of nature lies in learning to perceive, accept and respect nature in all its subtleties!
