Wharfe Speed-Know Your Worth
The textile mills of this now quiet green place rose and fell within 200 years. 200 years is no time at all in the deep time of these valleys. So the river continues, just as the glacier that carved these valleys did thousands of years ago, gradually regaining it's meander and grinding stone imperceptibly, atom by atom into gravel and sand, and with every storm the river moves the stones a-ways and eventually they will sink back into the ground they were once delved from. This goes on day and night, I can hear it from my window, whatever our concerns or preoccupations, the water toils on. There's a comfort in that. It was here before humans came, it will be here long after we've gone.
…Our rivers, Wharfe and Worth
I'm a landscape painter, but memory and intuition are fundamental to my process, I layer paint expressively capturing fleeting moments and memories of places and experiences, thinking about mood, atmosphere and the layers of history. As an outdoor swimmer I especially love the rivers that stitch our towns together and connect them to wilder landscapes beyond. They are my ongoing obsession. I love the symbolism of rivers flowing on forever and connecting past and present.
I live on the Worth and I swim in the Wharfe, both are beautiful rivers, both flow from the Pennine moors above through steep sided valleys. The Worth is a tributary of the Aire, which goes on to flow parallel to the Wharfe through the industrial heart of West Yorkshire. The first cotton mill built in Yorkshire still stands by the river Worth in Keighley.
It can’t be denied the rivers are better than they were during the height of industrialisation. But they are in a declining state and pressure on clanking Victorian infrastructure, modern farming methods the unhelpful model of for profit water companies and non prosecution for pollution offences has led to the rise of today’s passionate, community-led conservation efforts like the River Worth Friends and Ilkley Clean River Group.
My aim with this project is to make beautiful immersive paintings and create a series of wonderful events and workshops. Together with other river-loving creatives I’ll inspire environmental action, celebrate local histories, and contribute to cultural regeneration in Keighley and Ilkley.
Along the way we’ll develop connections and harness the knowledge of partner Ilkley Clean River Group to develop a campaigning group for the Aire catchment. Ilkley Clean River Group campaigned successfully for Wharfe at Ilkley and worked with Yorkshire Water on the river which became the first stretch of river in UK to be awarded bathing status. We’ll start a campaigning group for the Aire.
This is a start. I want the same for the all rivers, as outlined in The Universal Declaration Of The Rights of Rivers but I’ll start here in Keighley with the Worth and the Aire!
Workshops are an integral part of my creative process…
I love teaching, and facilitating others to connect to their landscape through art, with mindful observation and expressive journaling and painting techniques.
I run workshops independently and with local organisations to encourage people to get outside and enjoy their local area, whether that is out on the moors, down by the river, or in town. I believe this helps them to feel more invested in their place, and more likely to want to help take care of it. Fly tipping, pollution and neglect can make some local places seem unpleasant and even scary, but a little work together can transform them and grow pride and enjoyment and community connection. Art is a brilliant way to develop observation skills and to encourage people to slow down. I’m looking forward to partnering with Keighley Town Council, Keighley Creative, Get Out More CIC and Aire Rivers Trust and River Worth Friends by the Worth at Damems to really embed this philosophy.
My creative partners
Louie Haslam-Chance is a young local photographer who makes poetic but accessible work exploring place and memory. His work is a deeply personal response to the environment and he uses experimental photographic techniques with handmade sustainable developers and expired film.
His quiet, environmentally thoughtful approach to his work in local edge lands and becks is a way to mindful mental wellbeing and gentle connection to nature for our workshop participants. It will also introduce them to Photohub North in Keighley where they can continue to develop their photographic interest after the project ends.
Louie has been involved with several projects in Bradford including his brilliant project Mucky Beck for OUR TURN festival (Bradford 2025)
Leonie is already a firm favourite of the families of Keighley! Her imaginative world is so joyous and filled with warmth and familiarity. She remembers exactly what it feels like to be a kid and so kids love her regular Saturday workshops at Keighley Library.
Leonie is well known for her character design and leading our Who Is Your River? workshops she’ll use all her skills to encourage people to create a character to represent the Worth as they see it.
She’s deeply devoted to Keighley and has experiences the healing power of the Worth herself everyday as she walks down to her studio at Keighley Creative where she’s been involved in many community projects including the Rombald’s Rocks Sculpture trail and The Mega Drawing Box