Helen Riddle Textile Artist

12/06/2025

Brilliant weekend in Edinburgh-thanks to the lovely USK Edinburgh team for all your hard work and the warm welcome. Looking forward to South Wales next year!

24/03/2025

Great to see Headstock in its new home at Tileyard North!
Thanks to all the team for making this happen,



Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills

We’re so lucky to have been gifted ‘Headstock’ by Helen Riddle to showcase onsite at Tileyard North.

For substantial periods in our development, Rutland Mills (now Tileyard) operated as a worsted spinning mill; Headstock echoes this important part of its history.

Helen is a Wakefield-based artist working in textiles and mixed media. Headstock originally formed part of her solo exhibition, The Doffer and the Fancy: Reimagining the Machine at Leeds Industrial Museum in 2019 which celebrated different aspects of textile mill machinery.

Thanks again, Helen 🫶

Helen Riddle Textile Artist Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills

17/01/2025

Absolutely delighted that my series of 17 stitch sketches of the Upper Westgate area have been acquired by Wakefield Museum as part of their permanent collection.
In the week that I leave my studio at The Art House Wakefield it's lovely to think that these sketches, which were the first things I worked on at the studio in 2018, will stay together and form part of Wakefield Council's visual record of that moment in time.
Time, people and places move on ... the rickety staircase has already been replaced by something more long-lasting and the intriguing Salad Please graffiti at the bottom of Cheapside is gradually fading. There is wonder to be felt in noticing and recording these things - once seen they cannot be unseen - and it's hugely rewarding to know that these little stitched pieces will be preserved for the future.

27/11/2024

Many thanks to everyone who came to say hi at The Festive Market at The Hepworth Wakefield last weekend. It was so lovely to see you all and thank you for all the best wishes for my retirement. Massive thanks to all the team members, past and present, at The Hepworth Wakefield for their support and for putting on such amazing events.
I've been doing Hepworth Markets every year since they started 10 years ago. Starting in the dusty, unheated, industrial charm of the 'Calder Gallery' in full thermals and with a crazy dash across the grass to use the loos in the main gallery building. Then in a maze of marquees which twisted and turned around the sunken garden. One crazy outdoor summer event (on the patch of grass which preceded the beautiful garden) when the wind picked up and lifted the tarpaulins covering the stalls. Then the post-pandemic reduced-scale events in the Auditorium and Learning Centre, and finally into the glorious Carding Shed at Tileyard North. How lucky am I to have all this on my doorstep?!
But now it's time to scale down a bit, be kind to my hands and concentrate on things like drawing in my sketchbook which is my first love creatively. Don't worry, I'll still be making the rhubarb (of course!) and will hopefully have time to explore new creative delights just for the joy of it.
Next weekend I'll be enjoying the second weekend of as a customer - it's open Sat/Sun 10am-4pm so maybe see you there, but for now, it's time to put my feet up and make a brew!

22/11/2024

All set up in the beautiful surroundings of Tileyard North for the excitement of The Hepworth Wakefield Festive Market this weekend. We’ll be open tonight (Friday)7pm-9pm when the gallery will be alive and partying to celebrate the opening of their new exhibition and the Market continues on Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. This will be my last market EVER so make the most of your last chance to purchase a little bit of Riddle creativity! See you soon!

The Art House Wakefield

15/11/2024

Only a week to go until the glorious Festive Market at The Hepworth Wakefield and, to celebrate, I’ve added Tileyard North to my collection of stitch sketches.
Come and join us all in these beautifully restored, iconic mill buildings on Friday 22nd Nov 7pm-9pm, Saturday/Sunday 23rd/ 24th November 10am-4pm.
This will be my last Festive Market (and your last chance to buy from me!) so do come along and say hi!
The Art House Wakefield

12/11/2024

Taking inspiration from the glorious autumnal colours in my garden and looking forward to The Hepworth Wakefield Festive Market at Tileyard North on 23rd-24th November 10am-4pm!
Great news, too, that the market will also be open on Friday 22nd, 7pm-9pm so hope to see you there!





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27/10/2024

Less than a week to Open Studios The Art House Wakefield ! I'll be stitching away on some new work will be delighted to welcome you in. I'm also having a sale of work, including plenty of bargains to scoop up. This will be my last Open Studios so make the most of it while you can!
Come along and meet the other very talented studio holders or pop into the Crafted Makers Market in the exhibition spaces.
My studio neighbours who are opening their doors include:

26/10/2024

One week to go!!!