Recyled fabrics - including men's ties - have been used to create a unique exhibition showing the Yorkshire Arboretum as it changes through the seasons. KAREN DARLEY reports

AS the year cycles through its seasons, the Yorkshire Arboretum near Castle Howard puts on many different faces.

Justine Warner, who has been the artist in residence at the arboretum this year, has been there to capture them all.

But not in oils, or acrylics, or watercolour or charcoal.

The works on show at Threads Through Nature, an exhibition at the arboretum, have been made from found and recycled objects - predominantly men’s dress ties.

“I work with recycled ties to add warmth, texture and depth to my work," says Justine. "They give a richness to the landscapes that a plain canvas would not give.

“My work is often mistaken for oil paintings and most people are shocked to learn it is worked in fabric.”

Justine, a textile-based mixed media artist from Sheriff Hutton, visited the arboretum throughout the year to take photos of the changing months and seasons.

An artist who is heavily influenced by nature, her work is mainly based on the woodlands, wolds, coasts and moors of North Yorkshire. She uses her camera and iPad to capture the beautiful landscapes she lives in.

But having access to the arboretum in all seasons has been special, she admits.

“The highlights of the residency include being witness to the changing autumnal colours and being able to be the only person walking around the estate in the snow earlier this year with the only footsteps being that of myself and my two dogs,” she says.

Threads Through Nature runs at the Yorkshire Arboretum until Tuesday, November 20.

Justine’s future projects include a joint exhibition with fellow artist Patrick Smith at Nunnington Hall in March.