“THERE’S never enough space to include everything.”
Rosalind Freeborn creates paper collages of scenes from parts of Britain familiar to her - Yorkshire, Lancashire, the Lake District , London and many more.
Using cut and torn pieces of wrapping paper, old magazines, packaging and other materials that would otherwise be thrown away, she turns them into striking lampshades.
Her colourful Yorkshire shade features York Minster, Fountains Abbey, Whitby Harbour, Ribblehead Viaduct and the bridge at Knaresborough as well as an impression of the region’s moors and upland rock formations.
Rosalind - our Telegraph & Argus Trader of the Week - has also created a stunning Brontes shade, featuring Charlotte, Emily and Anne with a backdrop of Haworth Parsonage and the wild moors that inspired the literary sisters.
Now, through her business, Papershades, she has turned her attention to Calderdale, creating a shade featuring historic buildings including Shibden Hall, the former home of Anne Lister and location of the hit TV drama Gentleman Jack.
Halifax Minster, which dates back to the 15th century and was granted minster status in 2009, is also depicted, as well as the area’s canals.
Designs are are collaged into an artwork and glued to card before being printed on to five panels of special paper which are then cut out and fixed with two Perspex ‘wheels’. The paper lampshades are sold as a flat pack to assemble at home.
Rosalind, who lives in London, was commissioned by representatives of Dean Clough mills, which is included in the new shade.
“It’s such a landmark. Beacon Hill, is also featured and of course the beautiful countryside of the Calder Valley and the moors," she says.
“There’s never enough space to include everything. The scale of my design is quite small so I have to cram a lot into a space the size of an A4 page."
Rosalind enjoyed designing the shade. “I’m very fond of Halifax and enjoy going there to catch up with family. My aunt, Diana Freeborn lives there. My uncle the Reverend Jack Freeborn died 12 years ago - he was headmaster of Holy Trinity School in Halifax and was also a talented gardener.”
As well as landscapes Rosalind has crafted shades featuring well-known personalities including a host of Coronation Street characters, with Ken and Deirdre Barlow, Gail Platt, Dev Alahan and Betty Turpin among the well-known faces.
She has made hundreds of designs, with floral shades being her earliest works. “I can’t choose a favourite - but each design carries within it a moment in my life. The original floral ones, based on tissue paper artwork, always make me very happy.”
Rosalind holds Papershades workshops at her home, with groups of six to eight people, and sometimes in locations outside London, to coincide with art events. Those taking part can design and make their own lampshade.
She would love to host one in West Yorkshire. “I often pack up my printers and all the materials in the car and bring them to a space. The ideal workshop number is eight people. It’s a very enjoyable, creative and chatty experience. And everyone makes such different designs. Everyone goes home with a gorgeous paper lampshade.”
*Papershades are available at The Design Shop, Dean Clough Mills, Halifax HX3 5AX.
*papershades.co.uk
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