THEY’VE got being green down to a “fine art” in the Holme Valley.

Three artists’ eco friendly collections are on show in Holmfirth.

The Fair Traders Co-operative is showing textiles by Tanya Palmer, collage by Sophie Bebb and recycled silver jewellery by Maike Browning.

The artwork – which is made of recycled materials – fits with the shop’s ethos of sustainability said Helen Robinson of The Fair Traders Co-operative.

She said: “We want our customers to be able to make informed choices when choosing between different products, and to know that a purchase here improves livelihoods and helps the environment.

“Another way we promote sustainability is by selling goods that have been produced locally and by supporting local events such as Holmfirth Art Week.”

For the duration of Holmfirth Art Week – which runs until Saturday, July, 9 – The Fair Traders Co-operative will house the green collections.

Textile artist Tanya Palmer, from Holmfirth, last year won Holmfirth Art Week’s Florence Parker Memorial prize for Best Newcomer for her exhibit ‘South Lane, Holmfirth’.

Some of her work, including tea and coffee cosies, brooches and bags, is already on sale in The Fair Traders Co-operative shop and in its online store.

Like these products, Tanya’s artwork uses vintage and recycled textiles.

She said: “My textile art work is created using a mixture of appliqué and free-motion embroidery – which is me ‘drawing’ with my sewing machine.

“I also like to use splashes of colour – often with vintage fabric.”

Meltham artist Sophie Bebb’s collection of collage uses recycled images from newspapers and magazines alongside snippets of text.

She said: “I believe strongly that we all need to take responsibility for our impact on people and on the environment, which is why I use recycled materials in my work.

“Exhibiting at The Fair Traders Co-operative is wonderful for me, because its aims and ethos fit closely with my own.”

Maike Brown, who grew up in the Holme Valley, will also be exhibiting her contemporary jewellery made from recycled silver.

She said: “I work intuitively with precious and non-precious materials, adding flickers of colour using precious stones and coloured threads.

“I am happy to say that this collection is made almost entirely with recycled silver and all the jewellery is packaged in recycled boxes.”

Maike said using recycled silver is better for the environment as the mining of silver and other metals is damaging to the earth.