Castleford Museum and Queen’s Mill unveil new art installations celebrating riverside landscape
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Wakefield Council have opened two exciting new displays in Castleford celebrating the town’s river landscape.
‘Ebb and Flow’ is a partnership with West Yorkshire artist, Annie Harrison, and Castleford Heritage Trust.
“Annie Harrison’s work beautifully celebrates our waterside landscape and natural heritage. I’m so pleased that Castleford Museum and Castleford Heritage Trust have been able to collaborate to bring these wonderful artworks to Castleford.”
Cllr Hannah Appleyard
Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport
In 2021 - 2022, Annie walked from her home in Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire to Hull in East Yorkshire. Following the river network, the walk took her along the Calder and Aire through Castleford.
Along the way, Annie collected plants, stories and impressions. She created artworks inspired by the landscape she encountered, using ceramics, watercolour and textiles. Some of the works also feature eco-prints, a natural dyeing process that uses plant materials to colour paper or fabric.
The beautiful pieces are now on display at Castleford Museum and Queen’s Mill. Visitors to the displays can follow Annie’s journey of discovery and find out how the river became her trusted companion.
Artist, Annie Harrison, said: “It was always my hope that artwork from this project would be exhibited among the people and places that inspired it. I am delighted that it is on display at Castleford Museum and Queens Mill. I hope it will attract visitors to explore the interesting history of Castleford and its natural environment and welcoming people.”
Lorna Malkin, Chief Executive of Castleford Heritage Trust, said: “We are delighted to be showing Annie’s work here at the Mill and feel we are a very fitting location for her textile which can be viewed in the context of the River Aire running past our building. I’m sure visitors will enjoy learning more about the Ebb and Flow project and the importance of our local rivers."
At Castleford Museum, see artworks in a variety of media on display in the town that inspired them. They include a beautiful ceramic piece created in response to a David Dunderdale & Co creamware jug from the museum collection that Annie saw and sketched during the Castleford leg of her walk. Visitors can admire Annie’s new piece and the 18th century original side by side.
At Queen’s Mill until 9 May 2025, visitors can also enjoy the stunning centrepiece of the Ebb and Flow project - a panoramic textile artwork tracing the full river route. The intricate patchwork piece shows the path of the river network as it winds across the country in 1:50,000 scale.
The spectacular hanging is perfectly placed in Queen’s Mill against a backdrop of the River Aire and Castleford’s iconic Millennium Bridge.
Ebb and Flow is open now. The display at Queen’s Mill runs until 9 May 2025. The Castleford Museum display runs to April 2026.
Opening hours and visitor information can be found at:
Ebb and Flow by Annie Harrison at Castleford Museum | Experience Wakefield
Castleford Museum - Wakefield Council
Ebb and Flow by Annie Harrison at Queen's Mill | Experience Wakefield