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PETE WINSTANLEY was born in Surrey in 1950. In 1977 he moved to Durham to share a studio with Richard Sharland, watercolour artist, and Roger Lee, maker of early keyboard instruments. He later worked at Castle Chare Community Arts Centre in Durham city, and now works from home. His work has been widely exhibited throughout the North East, and much of his work is inspired by the landscape of Northern England. The technique of batik produces distinctive effects, and he is also inspired by the unique opportunities offered by the medium itself.

BATIK is an ancient craft, and the country which is probably most famous for batik work is Java. However, the craft has been practiced for centuries in many other parts of the world, including Africa, India, China and the Middle East.

The process involves the application of molten wax to cloth, which is then dyed with cold dye. The waxed areas are waterproof, and resist the dye. The process may be repeated to build up a more complex picture, and the wax is finally removed, usually with boiling water. One distinctive feature of batik is the “marbled” effect, achieved by randomly cracking the waxed cloth, so that dye penetrates the cracks. Batik is not a printing process – each piece is a unique work of art.

Batik is very versatile, as it is washable, and may therefore be used for clothing, cushion covers, roller-blinds, etc.

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