Ancient Traditions meets Contemporary Art

Prolific Peak District artist and graphic designer, Si Homfray has designed this year’s well dressings in the historic village of Stoney Middleton. 

The designs are a tribute to Ethel Haythornthwaite, environmental campaigner, activist and poet (1894-1986). As pioneer of the countryside movement; Ethel’s tireless campaigning ensured a greenbelt around Sheffield and led to the formation of the Peak District National Park in 1951. 

Si’s depiction of Ethel, drawn in his signature, highly-stylised and optimistic approach, and then painstakingly brought to life by dedicated volunteers from the village, sees her looking over the sheer beauty of the Peak District. 

Well dressing is one of the most ancient traditions of this country. This local custom, unique to Derbyshire and the Peak District, sees springs or wells adorned with pictures, created entirely by hand, made of natural materials such as petals and seeds. 

Si has designed two of the three dressings in Stoney Middleton. The Main Well Dressing can be found on The Nook, near St Martin’s Church and Bath House Gardens Well Dressing at a spring near the old Roman Baths. Whilst the Children’s Well Dressing (which can be found at the entrance to a house on The Nook) has been designed by a team of young people from the village.

In search of inspiration, Si undertook a great deal of research including reading about previous well dressing designs which have ranged from Biblical references to current topical and political issues to beautiful celebrations of the landscape, the park, the flora and fauna.

“I looked at a great many things until a wonderful series of happenstances presented Ethel. I had the great privilege to handle the original map that Ethel and Gerald created and marked up with the proposed green belt boundary and the initial Peak District National Park boundary. I was tasked by the countryside charity, CPRE to reproduce the map for the launch of Helen Mort’s book, ‘Ethel’.”

“Helen’s book is tremendous. I was very much moved by Helen’s beautiful writing and by the ideas expressed in Ethel’s long-form poem, ‘The Pride of the Peak’ where she walks around the wonderful detail of what makes the Park so magnificent.”

“The heartfelt introduction to Helen’s book from Dame Fiona Reynolds, former head of the National Trust also resonated with me deeply. Fiona eloquently tells us how important Ethel’s work was then and how it is even more important now to have these spaces, for so many reasons, not least, essential decompression, outdoor activities and mental health. These reasons are incredibly close to my heart too” Si explains. 

Designing the well dressing was very much an organic process for Si. Inspired by Ethel’s motivation and sharing her passion for public green spaces, he eventually settled on a tribute to this iconic countryside pioneer. 

“After much deliberation, it became obvious that ultimately, I wanted to make a statement about the sheer beauty of the park, so I started there.”

“In my mind I saw Ethel sat on her beloved horse overlooking everything we love so dearly today, the moorland, the crags, the reservoirs, the wildlife and the heather. The view from Bamford Edge has always summed up a little bit of ‘everything Peak District’ to my mind and so I set about a new drawing from this treasured place.”

After presenting his initial sketches to the Stoney Well dressing team, it became apparent that the blue skies might present a problem for the gathering team who collect the petals, bark and other necessary decoration for the clay pressing. Blue and turquoise in particular, is difficult to find at this time of year in this area.

“After a few redraws and simplifications of the foreground heather, I settled for a series of colour bands for the sky that felt reminiscent of the best moments watching the sunset, where the sun goes down and the sky becomes a rainbow of warm colours. Such a joy, such memories.”

Reflecting on the Well Dressing process as a whole, Si concluded: “My time working with this team of passionate, enthusiastic and energised and experienced volunteers was both humbling and profoundly moving. I am so flattered to have been allowed to be a part of this team and this process. I’m beyond delighted that my work has been embraced and lovingly reproduced in one of the oldest traditions of this country.”

“I do hope people love their final work, I’m sure they will. After all the stresses have died down, hopefully we will all get a quiet minute to reflect on the achievements of Ethel, such a strong pioneering woman, as well as such as strong team and a such a brilliant community of creative people here in Stoney Middleton. The Peak District National Park is so important for all of us.”

Press Release  |  August 2025   |   Molly Scott.

The final work from the Roman Baths house can be seen online at: