A Tribute to the Successful, First, Durham and Weardale, Art and Craft Tour

by Catherine Yates artist and writer

Hills and sunshine, scones and tea,

Chocolates, coffee, just for me,

Such a welcome in the dale,

As well as super art on sale,

Craftwork showing such great skill,

Turn left now journey up the hill,

A farm high up comes into sight,

What lay ahead? Oh such delight,

Moths and butterflies galore,

Birds and flowers, plus much more,

Leather carvings all around,

Exquisite art, talent abound,

Village pottery strikes a note,

Metal sculpture gets my vote,

Crocheted items, such a craft,

With fellow artists how we laughed,

A church became a gallery wall,

Delighting all who made a call,

Photographs of views sublime,

How I wished I’d had more time,

But now I had to leave the dale,

To see the Durham art on sale,

Artists’ studios full of light,

Paintings using colours bright,

A garden is a ceramic show,

The house a setting, all a glow

With art adorning every space,

Some bringing smiles upon my face,

The next stop buzzed with such a crowd,

“More than a hundred!” called out loud,

“People came to see our art”,

I wished my day was at the start,

One artist only I’d not seen,

And as I was so very keen,

I went to see her the next day,

And hear just what she had to say,

To visitors new skills she’d taught,

And everyone a present bought,

The weekend had been great for her,

“We must repeat it all next year!”

To Jack and Mirla I now turn,

About their work I’d much to learn,

Poet and crafters, oh so keen,

What a lot of work I’ve seen!

Huge thanks to Jack and Mirla too,

This tour’s been organised by you,

Well done, oh what a happy time!

I’ll dream of art and end this rhyme.