FARFIELD Mill is a giant within the textile world and a sought after venue for artists far and wide.

Four floors of inspiration, the vibrant Sedbergh arts and heritage's latest exhibition is Material Matters - Elemental.

Running in the Howgill Gallery until January 3, the showcase features a group of nine artists from the Derbyshire and Yorkshire area, the title of their exhibition reflecting how all the members of the group work with different materials in their own unique way.

Their creations range from functional bags, scarves, cushions and rugs to decorative pieces as wall hangings, framed pieces and sculptural works.

Among the group is Sue Lancaster, who creates bags and soft furnishings. Jacqueline James specialises in making individually designed hand-woven rugs and wall panels for commission and exhibition, and Bryony Lancaster is a surface designer specialising in printed textiles. Her passion is creating innovative hand-rendered designs that are then screen printed.

Also exhibiting is Julie Shearing, who takes her inspiration from the bold patterns and colours found on fish and creates abstract printed surfaces and Jude Shore is a textile artist and felt maker who enjoys the challenge of creating interesting and unique surfaces from a variety of natural fibres and recycled fabrics using both wet and machine felting techniques and silk paper techniques.

In the Farfield too is Sally Storr, a mixed media artist who works predominantly in 3D. She creates sculptures and installations, combining the traditional materials of ceramic and glass along with modern materials such as resin, acrylic and fibreglass.

Halifax-based fine art ceramicist Pam Broadhurst works with a range of clays as she enjoys the differing surface qualities, textures and building opportunities each offers, and for bespoke eating spoons to large sculptural carvings for the garden look no farther than Kyya Mayo Morroll, a professional arborist who has been wood carving for around three years.

Last, but certainly, not least, is Jason Heppenstall, who works with recycled metal. His astonishing work includes an eagle made entirely from knives forks and scissors.

Jason took an apprenticeship in sheet metal and has been working with steel for nearly 30 years. He works in Sheffield (and in the middle of a commission for a life-size gorilla).

"I started making sculptures as a hobby about four to five years ago, tinkering in the garage with random spices of scrap," explained Jason. "I enjoyed it more and more and I made presents for family and friends.

"A suggestion to start a Facebook page to show my work started to get very positive comments which gave me the confidence in what I was doing. I started to sell the odd piece and realised my work could be appreciated by a far wider audience.

"The rural environment I was nurtured in really inspires a love of nature, free from the constraints of the rat race we are trapped in.

"Combined with my love of art and the desire to use other ‘scrap’ I will endeavour to create sculptures that are appreciated for their aesthetic appeal as well as the fascination aroused from the eclectic components used."

Farfield Mill is open 10.30am-4.30pm.

Telephone 015396-21958.