A SPECTACULAR celebration of colour, art and creativity is coming to the Borders Textile Towerhouse in Hawick.

Northumbrian textile artist Helen Cowans brings her Bounding and Moon Gazing: Hares in Contemporary Textiles exhibition to the Borders for the first time.

The exhibition, which features textile wall-art as well as hare-themed dresses, opens on Saturday, March 2.

Helen told us: “I love drawing with a needle and thread.

"I use traditional and contemporary embroidery – both hand and machine – combined with hand-dyed, weathered and painted fabrics.

"My recent work has been based on hares: I admire their form, movement and character.”

A qualified tutor and professional lecturer who has taught City & Guilds embroidery courses, Helen now works freelance in a studio in her garden amidst the wild, windswept hills of north Northumberland, where she creates textile works for the wall, as well as costumes and 3D sculptures.

Helen added: “In a past life, I worked in a laboratory as a molecular biologist.

"I prefer stitching and reading history.”

Following the successful joint exhibition with Emma Jolly, Two Artists, at Hawick Museum, Helen is returning to the town with her solo exhibition.

Bounding and Moon Gazing: Hares in Contemporary Textiles will be displayed in the Exhibition Room at Borders Textile Towerhouse.

There will also be an opportunity to see Helen at work at the same venue on Sunday, June 23.

Zilla Oddy from promoters Live Borders said: “This exhibition gives the public the chance to see textiles, craft and art combined in a skilful and imaginative way.

"We are delighted to bring the exhibition to Hawick, as encouraging creativity is one of Live Borders’ aims as a charity.”

The exhibition, which is free, at the Borders Textile Towerhouse runs from Saturday, March 2 to Sunday, June 23