MOST artisans beaver away in a studio or workshop.
However, artist/tailor Richard Bliss carries out his work in more unusual places.
In the past he has sewn on trains from Darlington, in London’s Science Museum and even on a nudist beach in Greece.
Last week, he took his work to Clarendon’s Cafe, in Barnard Castle.
Mr Bliss, from Newcastle, is one of ten artists who have been commissioned for an exhibition at The Bowes Museum later in the autumn.
They have been challenged to come up with new work inspired by the museum, its surroundings or founders John and Josephine Bowes.
Mr Bliss is making a shirt in celebration of Thomas Lee Scott, who was one of the joiners who helped build the museum.
“I always do some of my work in public because I like to talk to people about the shirts I make and these conversations inspire ideas for future shirts.
“The reason I asked Clarendon’s to help is because I am making a shirt based on a working man’s shirt from 1870.”
Thomas Lee Scott was born in Middleton-in-Teesdale
and lived in Barnard Castle when the museum was being built.
Mr Bliss came across Scott while carrying out research for the exhibition.
Scott witnessed and broke up a fight at the museum which reached court and was reported in the Mercury at the time. This inspired Mr Bliss to celebrate those who carried out the construction of the museum by making a working man’s attire.
Thomas Lee Scott’s shirt will be on display in The Bowes Museum for the Untitled10 exhibition, which opens on October 11 and runs until the end of February next year.
“I am interested in sparking the imagination of local people who live and work near the museum,” added Mr Bliss.
“I am particularly interested to talk to people who had family members who worked at the museum in the past.”
Anyone interested in his work can see various pieces on show at Greenfield Arts, in Newton Aycliffe, as part of the ManMade Exhibition.
