A COMMUNITY art group held has held its first exhibition to honour the 50th anniversary of the death of ‘Gawthorpe’s Great Lady’.

To commemorate the occasion Valley Street Textiles Studio in Burnley created an exhibition to pay tribute to the textile collection of the Honourable Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, who died in 1967.

Gawthorpe Textile Collection was created by ‘Miss Rachel’ who was the last member of the family to live at Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham.

The exhibition was inspired by items made by Miss Rachel in her collection bearing her favourite flower - the rose.

The group’s display was showcased at Gawthorpe Hall for four months before it closed on Sunday.

A spokesman for Valley Street Textiles Studio said: “A study visit was held in the spring enabling the group to explore the textiles and to get the inspiration needed to create their new designs.

“Everyone has worked very hard and the resulting work would, we’re sure, have made Miss Rachel very proud.”

The exhibition showcased work by the group who are based at Valley Street Community Centre and it was the first group project they had completed.

The origins for the project began in late 2015, when Sue Reddish was appointed to establish a community outreach and education programme for Gawthorpe Textiles Collection.

The idea was to create a space to test out Miss Rachel’s ideas and inspirations.

Since January 2016 the community textile studio has been running from Valley Street Community Centre in Burnley.

Art work on show included a selection of framed images of flowers and Miss Rachel herself.

A spokesman for the project said: “Miss Rachel achieved her collection not through wealth but through networks and friendships.

“Much ahead of her time, she believed that creativity and making unlocked social and economic benefits.

“Sue is very proud of all the work the participants have made and even prouder of the group of the group themselves.”

The group involved with creating the work featured a variety of people of all ages.