Lake District Artist Inspired by Stars Unveils New Exhibition

A new exhibition is set to open in the Lake District celebrating the work of artist Linda Ryle, who previously designed accessories for high-profile figures in London’s fashion scene.

The show, titled Close Encounters, will feature a collection of paintings created over the past five years and will open at the Heaton Cooper Studio archive gallery in Grasmere on June 11. It has been curated by her husband, mountain painter Julian Cooper.

Ryle, who was born in Newcastle in 1947 and trained at several respected art schools including Goldsmiths College in London, has built a long career spanning both commercial design and fine art. In her early career, she created bespoke belts for celebrities including Elton John and Lulu, alongside other well-known figures.

After living and working in London, she moved to the Lake District in the 1970s, eventually settling in Cumbria, where the natural landscape became a major influence on her artwork.

Her latest exhibition focuses on studies of light, texture, and natural forms, with works inspired by landscapes, plants, and the changing effects of sunlight and shadow.