April Pebble & Charlotte Anne Duckworth
4th - 29th November
This November, The Rising Gallery at The Black Thistle welcomes Between Earth and Moon, a collaborative exhibition by Somerset artists April Pebble and Charlotte Anne Duckworth of The Silver Duck.
Bringing together the delicacy of glass and the warmth of sculpted metal, the exhibition explores the intricate relationships found within the natural world, from the smallest details of leaves and lichen to the movement of the landscape and the mysteries of the night sky.
Inspired by the spaces between the familiar and the fantastical, their work celebrates organic forms, playful imagination and the unexpected connections that emerge when different materials meet.
Between Two Worlds
At the heart of Between Earth and Moon is a shared fascination with the natural world and the remarkable forms, patterns and relationships found within it.
Fallen leaves, winding stems and delicate flowers sit alongside moonlit boats, floating shapes and celestial forms. The resulting collection moves between earthbound observations and dreamlike interpretations, inviting visitors to look a little closer at the beauty that surrounds us.
Working collaboratively, April and Charlotte bring their distinct artistic practices together. Twisted brass stems support fragile three-dimensional glass flowers, while colourful, acid-etched glass mobiles introduce movement, light and playful abstraction.
Kinetic sculptures respond to the slightest breeze, transforming seemingly still objects into something quietly alive.
Throughout the exhibition, contrasts become connections. Metal provides structure while glass captures light. Solid forms meet transparency, and traditional craftsmanship gives way to unexpected, imaginative compositions.
A Meeting of Materials and Imagination
While April and Charlotte work with different materials, their practices share a common appreciation for craftsmanship, experimentation and the natural world.
Both artists are interested in the way materials behave, whether that is the passage of light through coloured glass or the movement created by a carefully balanced piece of metal.
In Between Earth and Moon, these qualities become part of a shared visual language.
The strength of brass supports the delicacy of glass. Organic shapes take on unexpected forms, while light and movement introduce an ever-changing quality to the work.
The collaboration celebrates the beauty of working across disciplines, revealing how contrasting materials can complement one another and open up new creative possibilities.
The result is a collection that feels both grounded and otherworldly, rooted in the natural world yet free to wander into the imagination.
April Pebble
The Interconnected Natural World
Based on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet, glass artist April Pebble works across stained glass, glass fusing and metalwork, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary techniques.
Her practice is deeply influenced by the natural world, particularly the relationships that allow living things to survive, adapt and flourish together.
Lichen, leaves, mushrooms and trees are recurring sources of inspiration. Lichen, with its extraordinary partnerships between different organisms, offers a particularly fascinating example of cooperation and interdependence.
Through her work, April explores these connections and the idea of reciprocity within nature, encouraging reflection on what we take from the living world and what we give back.
Trees also hold a particular significance in her practice. As living witnesses to generations, changing seasons and shifting landscapes, they carry stories of time, belonging and endurance. Their destruction, and the displacement of communities connected to them, raises questions about loss, memory and our relationship with place.
Using the colour, texture and transparency of glass, April translates these ideas into sculptural pieces that respond beautifully to light, revealing new details as the viewer moves around them.
Her work reminds us that even the smallest elements of nature belong to something much larger.
Discover more of April's work: @aprilpebbleglass
Charlotte Anne Duckworth
Finding Movement in Metal
Charlotte Anne Duckworth is an award-winning silversmith and the founder of The Silver Duck, established in 2012.
Working from her studio on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet, Charlotte creates sculptural objects for the home, combining traditional metalworking techniques with an instinctive appreciation for organic form.
Originally trained in silversmithing, metalwork and jewellery, her practice has evolved to embrace the expressive possibilities of copper and brass.
For Between Earth and Moon, Charlotte explores the movement, growth and fluidity of the natural world through sculptural mobiles, lighting and wall art.
Inspired by winding vines, flora and the sweeping forms of canyons, her work transforms rigid metal into flowing, tactile shapes that appear almost weightless.
Using techniques such as sinking, fold-forming and anticlastic raising, Charlotte carefully manipulates metal to create curves, folds and dimensional forms. The natural characteristics of each material become part of the finished piece, allowing texture and shape to develop through the making process.
There is a wonderful sense of playfulness in her work, balancing elegant design with unexpected movement and expression.
Her pieces sit somewhere between functional objects and sculpture, bringing curiosity, character and a little wonder into everyday spaces.
Discover more of Charlotte's work: @thesilverduck
Visit Between Earth and Moon at The Rising Gallery
Between Earth and Moon invites visitors to explore the space between nature and imagination, where familiar forms become something extraordinary and the smallest details offer new ways of seeing.
From delicate glass flowers and sculptural metalwork to floating mobiles and playful celestial forms, the exhibition is a celebration of curiosity, collaboration and the enduring beauty of handmade objects.
On display throughout November 2026 at The Rising Gallery, within The Black Thistle, 21 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset.
Pop in during our opening hours to discover the exhibition and experience the work of these two talented local artists for yourself.
Join us at The Rising Gallery for a special artist talk with April Pebble and Charlotte Anne Duckworth, the artists behind Between Earth and Moon.
Discover more about their individual creative practices in glass and metal, the inspiration behind their work, and how their contrasting materials come together in the collaborative pieces created for the exhibition.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions and chat with the artists, with refreshments included.
Exhibition Name: Between Earth and Moon
Date: Thursday 12th November
Time: 7.00-8:30pm
Price: £5 per ticket
A small and intimate gathering, with just 14 places available.