Humphries Weaving contributed to the transformation of Sudbury's Gainsborough Gallery through its £10 million renovation. Creating bespoke silk damask wall coverings and donor panels for this new national centre, we developed historically authentic fabrics to complement the masterpieces of Thomas Gainsborough, one of Britain's most significant 18th-century artists.

Working closely with the gallery team, we developed a historically authentic fabric worthy of housing Gainsborough's masterpieces. As there was no historical evidence available, we built an authentic fabric from scratch using our archive of colour and design. The chosen 'Rangers Green' shade was carefully selected, as it was well document for it’s popularity in 3rd & 4th quarters of the 18th century when Gainsborough was at his height. Additionally reflecting both the artist's famous landscapes and complementing the gilt frames of his works. The Arkesden damask design, selected from period-appropriate patterns, and was woven using approximately 2.5 million metres of silk yarn.

The architectural design pays homage to Sudbury's silk-weaving heritage, with brickwork patterns mimicking warp and weft, and traditional weaving mill roof structures. A Suffolk 'Crinkle Crankle' wall adds further local character to the garden.

For the gallery's entrance, we created four innovative donor panels inspired by Gainsborough's paintings. These pieces showcase our technical expertise, translating the artist's works into black and white jacquard weaves with varied constructions, incorporating embroidery-style lettering to acknowledge the project's supporters.

As a Sudbury-based company, this collaboration holds special significance. The entire project, from dyeing to weaving, was executed locally by Humphries Weaving, demonstrating the town's continuing textile heritage and craftsmanship. The wall hangings were expertly installed by Hesp & Jones, creating a fitting backdrop for this important collection of British art.

Project reference: 4366, 4576

With special thanks to providing photographs to Gainsborough's House ZMMA ©Hufton+Crow