A CHANCE meeting between artist and environmentalist Jenny Stuart-Anderson from Leysters and Italian lace-maker and painter Lorenzo Gavarini at an organic farm in central Italy, has brought together a unique, creative duo.

Discovering that they shared a common interest in art and design -- Jenny works with textiles; Lorenzo is, among his many creative gifts, a lace maker -- they were, writes Jen Green.

drawn together by a deep commitment to protecting the environment.

Encouraged to travel to rural Leysters to work in a more creative environment, Jenny then encouraged him to design and make rag rugs and help run her workshops. But after a while, he took up his first love, painting, this time in oils on canvas.

After studying Greek and Roman art in Milan, the young Italian took up graphics and for some years designed decorative lace for the fashion industry. When computers took over from freehand, he lost interest and decided it was time to move.

"I had become bored with the fashion world," he said. "I needed a complete change of direction, so I abandoned art for the environment and went to work on organic farms in central Italy. But my interest in visual arts never went away".

There, he met Jenny and followed her to England and living in the Marches has been a very positive experience. He no longer feels suffocated by the social weave of Italy where, as an artist, he was expected only to do the things that were acceptable to that society.

"Now I feel part of a rich and exciting creative community and love to see colourful and vibrant work. It's a very powerful energy to handle, and I need to surround myself in it to get me through the long, grey English winters," he added.

Last year Lorenzo revisited Rome to look at baroque art and has chosen to reproduce a subject from that time: aggression justified by politics.

However, he believes that local galleries fear the contemporary artist and he is looking for exhibition space where he can show and talk about his work with people prepared to meet the challenge of contemporary art.

rag rug

projects

Meanwhile, Jenny has been demonstrating her rag rug work via the Creative Breaks Association at country living fairs in London and contemporary craft shows in and around the Marches. She is currently working on her book of rag rug projects which also covers some history of the old craft.

She said: "It's good to have Lorenzo's imput. Last year I held workshops at the National Quilt Champion-ships at Sandown Park and the Great Northern Quilt Show in Harrogate and together we exhibited our work in 'The Art of Sustainability Exhibition' at Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival and opened our studios to visitors during Herefordshire Art Week 2002."

"I also share exhibitions with other artist at Caf@allSaints in Hereford. One of my pieces with large wings and feathers made from rubber gloves attracted lots of comments from the public and I am continually developing more ideas along similar lines," she added.

Jenny's plans for this year include 'pick and mix' workshops at Bringsty near Bromyard and a 'Rag Rug Workshop' which will be held at the Jinny Ring Craft Centre in Worcester-shire.

Jenny and Lorenzo, the Leysters 'creative duo' can be contacted by calling them on 01568 750229.