Muir Trust Residency 2026 -

We are delighted to welcome textile artist Jane Charles as the 2026 Muir Trust Artist in Residence at Discover Bucks Museum.

Muir Trust Residency
29 April – 31 May 2026

Jane Charles: Solo Exhibition
6 June – 12 July 2026

Muir Trust Residency

From 29 April – 31 May 2026, Jane will be working in response to the objects and stories featured in The SAXONS, drawing inspiration from its rich historical treasures. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to see her creative process unfold in real time, offering a glimpse into how contemporary art can connect with the past.

Jane’s residency will bring together a rich mix of traditional and experimental techniques. Her work will be exploring:

· Natural dyeing and eco-printing using plant materials

· Illustration with oak gall ink

· Textile techniques including goldwork and Bayeux stitch embroidery

Eco-printing lies at the heart of Jane’s practice. By using leaves gathered from specific locations, she creates textiles that are deeply rooted in place. The subtle, earthy palette of natural dyes also lends itself beautifully to interpreting historical themes, offering a tactile and visual connection to the past.

Jane will be in residence at the Museum on Wednesday 29 April from 12pm – 3pm then from 6 May – 30 May she will be in Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm.

About the artist

Based in Milton Keynes, Jane Charles has long been inspired by the idea of “place” from landscapes and cartography to local social history. Since 2020, she has focused on eco-printing as a way of embedding a direct, physical connection to location within her work.

Her practice often combines eco-printed backgrounds with techniques such as indigo dyeing, batik, fabric painting, free-motion stitching, and hand embroidery. Previous projects have drawn on historically significant sites such as Secklow Mound, once a meeting place for the Anglo-Saxon Secklow Hundred.

©️ Jane Charles Alchemy natural dyes applique 2025

©️ Jane Charles Great Linford quilt mixed textiles and photo collage 2021

Visit during the residency

Throughout the residency period, visitors are encouraged to drop in, see works in progress, and learn from Jane more about her techniques. This is a chance to engage directly with an artist at work and discover how natural processes and historical research come together in contemporary textile art.

Events

Oak gall ink workshop: let’s explore the ancient magical ink!
Saturday 30 May, 1pm – 4pm
Learn about the ancient ink made from Oak Galls then use the inks to decorate and illustrate a small folded book.

Discover More

Final exhibition

Jane’s residency will culminate in a solo exhibition running from 6 June to 12 July 2026, showcasing the work developed during her time at the museum.

About the Muir Trust

The Muir Trust was founded in 1997 by local artist Jane Muir in memory of her husband, Alastair. The Trust supports a biennial residency programme at Discover Bucks Museum, providing established artists in the visual and applied arts with time and space to develop new work inspired by the museum’s collections.