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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