Mother Shipton’s to Host Spellbinding Art Exhibition by Mister Finch. A chance to view the exquisite works of Leeds-based textile artist Mister Finch at Mother Shipton’s.
Often cited as a man who brings fairy tales to life, Mister Finch is a renowned textile artist from Leeds, who creates incredibly detailed ‘creatures’ from recycled scraps of thread and fabric. Drawing inspiration from British folklore, Finch works alone and makes everything himself by hand in a studio full of books, glass jars and naughty cats.
Finch has chosen Mother Shipton’s Cave in Knaresborough to host his creations. It’s said to be a special place for Finch because when visiting England’s oldest tourist attraction a few years ago, he made a wish which later came true. This fondness, coupled with the mystery and wonder surrounding Mother Shipton’s Cave, makes it the perfect place to house Finch’s unique works of art.
“My new book ‘The Museum Of Figments’ tells the tale of Witches and their magical quick moving helpers ‘Figments’. They end up collected together in a secret museum and stored alongside enchanted artifacts and tools. What better place to display some of the characters from the story than in the grounds of this historic and magical place. I’ve been coming to the cave for years and I know first-hand how incredibly special and potent this place is.” – Mister Finch.
“We are so honoured to be hosting this wonderful exhibition in our curious little museum! Mister Finch’s artwork ties in so beautifully to the nature and folklore surrounding the site, as well as the magic and mystery that draws visitors into learning about the legend of Mother Shipton,” says Jay Stelling, Marketing Coordinator at Mother Shipton’s, “We’ve all been fans of Mister Finch for a long time, and we can’t wait for our visitors to see the showcase.”
The new, one-of-a-kind exhibition features selected works which reflect the magic and intrigue of Mother Shipton’s. The pieces, taken from Finch’s Museum of Figments collection, will be displayed in glass cases in Mother Shipton’s newly refreshed museum. Other historic artefacts which can be seen in the museum include Queen Mary’s petrified shoe and Agatha Christie’s petrified handbag.
The exhibition will come to a close in August 2026.
