Artist creating unique masks inspired by her love of nature

An artist from Ballivor has come up with a way to merge art with necessity by creating a range of 100% cotton masks inspired by local nature.

Textile artist Anita Reynolds is behind the unique idea for the line of masks she calls ‘Touched by Nature’ that features photography images of the natural world around her home in Ballivor.

Speaking about her new venture she said:

“I didn’t want to just produce masks because there’s loads of masks out there. Everything I do is related to nature and my surroundings here in the countryside so I decided to incorporate the two.

“I have been taking beautiful photos going out on walks for years and then I thought why not print some of my favourite photos onto the cotton so then my masks are not just masks there is something unique about them.

“I send my photo to a printing company and print them on to 100 per cent cotton and then I put two layers of cotton at the back and I stitch them myself.

“There is a butterfly one that I took when I was out walking here in the bog in Ballivor and I have a cherry blossom one that I took here in the garden.

“My background is in textile so I have an eye for pattern and colour.”

Anita who spent 25 years teaching art in Beaufort College says her childhood growing up in the countryside in Kilmainhamwood had a big influence on her work.

“I think it goes back to my childhood in Kilmainhamwood always had a great love for trees and my father would have taught us the names of all of the trees.

“My uncle had a farm we used to go up to and we’d bring in the hay for him so I think my love of nature goes right back to then.

“In Ballivor here I’m surrounded by meadows and fields and I couldn’t imagine not living in he countryside it’s just a part of me.

“I love walking through the fields and finding bird’s nests and different things.”

Anita’s sculpture was recently chosen for Sculpture in Context in the Botanic Gardens, a long time ambition that was finally realised this year however plans for an exhibition were scrapped as a result of lockdown.

“Unfortunately the exhibition was cancelled due to Covid but an online exhibition is planned in September instead so all is not lost.”