There’s a contemporary gift store on one side, an antiques shop on the other. Now Moth has landed in the middle. Jenny Needham reports

THE steep bank up from the river Tees in Barnard Castle is well known for its antique shops. Now two creative minds have come together to offer shoppers something much more modern.

Moth, part gallery, part home store, is the brainchild of Lisa Wilkinson, who is already a fixture in the Teesdale town, and Gwen Brown, a partner in Gallerina, in Duke Street, Darlington. The pair met when Gwen came into Lisa’s shop, Oswells, to show her some mirrors she was having made and wanted Lisa to stock. “They were lovely; we realised then that we had similar tastes,” says Lisa.

That was some years ago when Lisa, who started her career at Liberty of London and a home store in Harvey Nichols, opened the first incarnation of Oswells in the town’s Market Place. In 2008, she shut up shop and headed back down South to get married and live in London, but the lure of the North proved too great and in 2011 Oswells returned to the town, opening in a new home at the top of The Bank.

Gallerina already had a foothold in Oswells - the gallery has a space at the back of the store – and inside the shop is linked to White’s antiques. Now Moth has landed, filling the space between the two. Whereas Oswells is a mix of books, stationery, prints and design-led gifts, Moth is a colourful space housing hand-made ceramics and glass, cushions designed by artists and printmakers and vintage mid-century furniture that’s designed to last. “We like to showcase beautiful products that have a story behind them and a function,” says Lisa.

“When Lisa opened the new Oswells, she offered Gallerina some space to have a pop-up gallery,” adds Gwen. “A few months later we had the opportunity to rent the adjoining space, and as we both have a keen interest in mid-century modern furniture, we decided this could be the starting point for a ‘gallery meets home’ concept.”

With Lisa's flair for visual display and Gwen's background in finding new artists and makers, the result is an exciting blend of old and new, vibrant mid-century colours, alongside contemporary country style. “The initial response has been amazing proving that there are many like-minded people who appreciate this new generation of British artisans,” says Gwen.

Lisa’s top three Moth designers

Mary Chappelhow Ceramics

These are hand-made in Cumbria in beautifully simple, understated designs and glazes. They are very usable pieces that would work in any home.

Mini Moderns

Cushions, enamelware, lampshades, wallpaper and more, all designed and made in the UK by lovely people. Their influences include mid-century textiles, vintage toys and travel.

Twig Throws

Produced in a small, family-run mill in the softest lambswool. They are designed by textile designer Susan Lacey, who has a knack for putting wonderful colours together.

Gwen’s top three Moth designers

St Judes

Artist-designed fabrics and wallpapers. Founded by Simon and Angie Lewin, St Judes collaborates with an eclectic range of artists to create and print unique fabrics, cushions, wallpapers and lampshades.

Michelle Freemantle ceramics

Michelle is based in Yorkshire and her ceramics are created using a mix of hand-built ,s mould and thrown techniques Michelle uses a mix of hand-built, press mould and thrown techniques. Lines and text are inscribed into the surfaces and slips and oxides applied. They are beautiful and functional art pieces.

Janie Textiles

Gorgeous 100 per cent wool cushions in patterns and colourways exclusive to Moth.