About Us

Heather Ritchie
Heather was born in Sunderland and moved to Reeth in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, with her husband Leslie (a skilled engineer, who designed and made her rug making tools and equipment) in the early 1970s. She learnt basic rugmaking from a neighbour and soon developed the ‘painting with fabric’ technique which made her name worldwide. She died at her home in Reeth just before her birthday in November 2022.



Rug Aid
After Heather visited the Gambia in February 2007 she set up a community interest company, Rug Aid cic, to provide opportunities for people with visual impairments in one of the poorest communities in Africa. The cic was wound up just before Heather died but her students still make rugs, wall hangings and decorative items for sale locally.








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