CAPABILITY is the watchword in two embroidery exhibitions currently on show at local National Trust properties.

For as well as being a celebration of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s 300th birthday, they also show off the skills of the North-East’s very capable textile artists.

Amongst the work on show at Wallington is a beautiful piece by Rene Baillie, of the Hexham branch of the North-East Embroiderers’ Guild.

Rene is still stitching at 94 years of age and her contribution is called Looking Through – a view from an old church window out onto a garden in the grounds of Nunwick Hall.

It’s all the more impressive as Rene was awaiting an operation on the tendons in her hand when she stitched it.

“It was a real struggle to get it finished, but I was determined to do it.

“I have been embroidering all my life, well, as far back as I can remember. I just love creating things,” she said.

Another of the 50 unique pieces belongs to the Hexham group’s chairman, Charlotte Hackwell.

Her multi-media picture was inspired by a visit to Rothley Lake, a Capability Brown landscape close to Wallington.

“We were invited there by the estate manager last year,” said Charlotte.

“It’s a three dimensional work that includes painting, fabric, machine stitching and hand stitching.”

The Wallington exhibition, on until October 29, is called Landscapes of Capability Brown and showcases an array of textile art inspired by Brown’s landscapes and gardens, all created by members of the North-East Embroiderers’ Guild as part of the national Capability Brown Festival.

Each piece explores the different elements that Capability Brown used to create his influential landscape designs, from water and trees to follies and vistas.

Wallington’s visitor experience manager Gillian Mason said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this exhibition by the North-East Embroiderers’ Guild as it adds another dimension to our year-long programme of Capability Brown celebrations.

“The Guild members have created beautiful and intricate works of art, many of which take their inspiration from the Wallington estate, including the lake that Capability Brown designed at Rothley, and the exhibition really celebrates this special anniversary in a colourful and unusual way.”

The exhibition at Gibside is outdoors and has been so successful that its run has been extended so it now finishes on October 18.

Landscape and Gardens of Gibside is a colourful collection of hand- embroidered domestic tea towels and aprons, displayed on washing lines in the walled garden.

Also, inside the Palladian Chapel, there is an exhibition of more traditional and intricate embroidered textiles displayed on boards and easels.

Both exhibitions are part of a nationwide series of textile shows organised by the Embroiderers’ Guild, which is a Capability Brown Festival partner and, as such, has contributed to the celebrations throughout 2016.

The EG Hexham branch always welcomes new members. They meet at the Torch Centre in the town every second Saturday of the month, apart from August, and the next meeting will be on September 10.