Talk
From Sculpture to Tapestry: Henry Moore and Eva Rothschild
15:00
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Join artist Eva Rothschild and weavers Alison Doherty and Dilys Stinson for a discussion about Henry Moore’s unique tapestries.
Henry Moore worked across multiple mediums including sculpture, drawing, textiles and graphic works, as well as experimenting in scale in the transition from one medium to another. One of Moore’s most unique approaches to developing his creative ideas was adapting drawings into large tapestries.
These tapestries were produced in collaboration with Dovecot Studios in Scotland in 1950, and Brose Patrick Studio between 1971 and 1974. A further 23 tapestries were woven at West Dean College in Sussex between 1976 and 1986.
Join artist Eva Rothschild for a conversation with weavers Alison Doherty and Dilys Stinson, who worked with Moore on the West Dean Tapestries. Against the backdrop of Moore’s tapestries in the Aisled Barn, they’ll discuss how these artworks were made with the West Dean weavers, as well as Rothschild’s experience working with West Dean for her Sadler’s Wells East tapestry commission.
Tickets
Tickets to this event are £10. You need to have an annual ticket in order to attend.
- If you already have an annual ticket, just come along on the day and bring your annual ticket with you.
- If you don’t have an annual ticket, you can buy one online or from the ticket desk when you arrive.
An annual ticket lets you return to Studios & Gardens as often as you like, during open season, for 12 calendar months.
About the speakers
Alison Doherty
Alison Doherty studied at Edinburgh College of Art. She is a founding member of the West Dean Tapestry Studio, Sussex. Doherty worked on the weaving of the Henry Moore tapestries that are now on view in the Aisled Barn at the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens in Perry Green.
Doherty made the transition from collaborative studio work to private commissions, and has has since pursued an interest in Conservation. She now leads a Tapestry Conservation Studio at Hopetoun House outside Edinburgh, specialising in 17th and 18th century tapestries.
Dilys Stinson
Dilys Stinson attended the first 1-year course in Tapestry at West Dean College, Sussex, taught by Eva Louise Svenson in 1974. She was invited to return to West Dean two years later, working with Svenson to weave a tapestry from a small Henry Moore watercolour, commissioned by Mary Moore, which led to the founding of the West Dean Tapestry Studio.
Stinson also worked on tapestries by Howard Hodgkin, Eileen Agar, and Philip Sutton. Concurrent to weaving, Stinson developed the dye room at West Dean where she produced all the yarn colours needed for the tapestries in house.
Stinson left West Dean in 1985 to produce her own work for exhibitions and on commission. She taught Tapestry at Morley College, London, before training to become a therapist.
Encounters
16 April – 2 November 2025
This season at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, we’re celebrating the inspiring and transformative encounters between Henry Moore and the people, objects and ideas in his orbit.
We’ll be holding a series of talks, open archives and film screenings, as well as a daily programme of free creative activities for families.
Find out more about this season’s events
Getting here
We’re located just 27 miles north of London in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside.
Our 2025 visitor season runs from 16 April to 2 November. We’re open Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00–17:00.
Henry Moore Studios & Gardens
Perry Green
Hertfordshire
SG10 6EE
United Kingdom
T: 01279 843 333
E: visitorservices@henry-moore.org
