FARFIELD Mill is an inspirational place.

On the cusp of Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales, with the Howgill Fells providing a breathtaking backdrop, the beautifully restored Victorian woollen mill is these days a vibrant centre of excellence for textiles, featuring heritage displays, working looms, regularly changing exhibitions, craft demonstrations, art and crafts for sale by resident and visiting artists, workshops and events - not forgetting the culinary delights of its Weavers Cafe.

Farfield director Anne Pierson's excellent programme of exhibitions has brought some of the textile world's best to the Sedbergh venue; the late, Mary Burkett, who was one of the most influential and respected figures in Cumbria's cultural landscape, president of the International Feltmakers Association and one of the arts world’s finest ambassadors, was a big Farfield fan.

Anne and her team's latest burst of creative thinking has transformed its Howgill Gallery into a fresh space dedicated to celebrating the UK’s young, outstanding designer-makers, including silversmiths, glass makers, ceramicists, and textile makers who have all benefitted from the support of the Crafts Council’s Hothouse creative and business development programme.

First in the gallery's spotlight is the work of rising star Tom Philipson in From Faker to Maker, which runs until Sunday, April 23.

Tom lives and works in Ulverston.

Son of a silversmith and a fashion designer, he initially trained as a cabinet maker, working within the high-class restoration and conservation industries as a restorer for 15 years before becoming increasingly disillusioned with "faking things" for a living. Four years ago, he turned his hands to his own creations, designing and making furniture and products from wood.

Using only traditional hand tools and techniques passed down from generation to generation, Tom designs contemporary furniture through a variety of experimental processes. Initially it was a way of showcasing his technical abilities as a maker. His work is now simpler in form and has become increasingly centred round the idea of multifunction, in a way to move his practice from the predictable maker’s route to one which can become engaging and accessible for all.

In 2014 he was awarded the Acorn bursary from Lakeland Arts after the Collect Cumbria exhibition at Blackwell and was also winner of the Best in Show award for excellence at the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate. In 2015 he was awarded a place on The Crafts Council’s Hothouse talent development programme, and since has exhibited his work nationally.

Throughout the past four years of making, experimentation has been paramount for Tom with his work with wood shavings showing how highly inventive he has become.

Through constant testing and experimenting he's managed to create a new material from a seemingly useless bi-product, using it in his designs for lighting, and his extraordinary Shaving Lamps, which will be centre stage in the Farfield exhibition and for sale for the first time.

Tom's also exploring ways of using bamboo as a material for multifunctional products.

Anne Pierson said she felt that Farfield needed to attract new audiences through dedicating one of its galleries to the work of emerging designers, featuring a range of six different crafts each year from the former Hothouse pool of talent. She added that she's absolutely delighted with Tom's exhibition of cutting edge furniture and lamps: "They’re beautiful, beautifully lit, witty and the most eccentric way of pricing I’ve ever come across. Tom is planning to be at Farfield two or three times during the course of the exhibition to talk about his work and to demonstrate, so people should keep an eye on Farfield’s website for details."

Elsewhere at Farfield Mill - and also running until April 23 - is TEXTiles by Textilia 3, a well-established and highly rated group of textile artists based in the north of England, who have exhibited widely in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria during the last 22 years.

There are currently 18 members, whose work is diverse and encompasses many techniques, from hand and machine stitch, felt, appliqué, dyeing and resists, print and manipulated fabrics and fibres. Abstract, figurative and decorative pieces, 2D, 3D and wearable art have featured in previous successful exhibitions.

The artists have all interpreted the theme in their own way, finding inspiration in aspects of TEXTiles from fonts and typefaces to the colours and patterns of tiles, from myths and legends to storytelling.

Farfield Mill is open 10.30am-4.30pm; Weavers Cafe 10am-4.15pm.

015396-21958.