This week, Castle Park Arts Centre opened four new exhibitions of paintings, mixed-media pieces and textiles, one of which is brought to us by textile group, National Progression.

Natural Progression is a 'happy band' of Lancashire-based artists who all share a passion for textiles and who meet regularly to develop their skills, experiment with new ideas and run exhibitions of their work.

Their pieces have been featured in various venues across the North West, including Towneley Hall in Burnley, Salmesbury Hall near Preston and now, Frodsham's very own Castle Park.

"Natural progression is all about members developing their own styles and techniques, which makes exhibitions diverse and very exciting," says group Chair, Sue Chisnall-Sumner. "Each member has free rein to research and interpret the theme anyway they like.

This time, National Progression have chosen to explore the theme of 'Ragtime', creating a hugely varied ensemble of wall hangings, notebooks, bags, jewellery, scarves and vessels which draw out the contrasting moods of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras.

Stretching from around 1890 until the beginning of the First World War, Art Nouveau was an artistic and architectural movement inspired by the fluid lines of plant life and other natural forms.

Art Nouveau's rounded shapes and floral patterns lend its interiors, furniture and buildings a soft, romantic feel, allowing the graceful flux of the natural world to seep into the hardness of manmade structures.

If you've ever been to Paris and seen the curving, almost branch-like shapes of some Métro station entrances, you will have witnessed the architectural traces of this highly ornamental artistic style.

As European society was engulfed by the destruction of World War One, Art Nouveau had slowly begun morphing into its successor: Art Deco.

With its sleek lines and bold, geometric patterns, Art Deco embodied all the opulent luxury of the Roaring Twenties.

"The title 'Ragtime' came into being for two reasons," Sue tells me. "It conjures up the feeling of the Art Deco period with its laughter and decadence, and also explains what we use as textile artists: fabric.

"Personally, my inspiration was based on aspects of Art Deco and Art Nouveau. To start with especially during lockdown last year I needed to feel upbeat, so I concentrated on Art Deco - making 'Party Girl' and 'Ragtime Girl' to get me going."

These machine-stitched canvases, ornamented with bursts of colour, conjure up the feel of a 1920s nightclub, full of the glittering glamour of the famous flappers.

"This was followed by many pieces based on both periods," Sue continues. "I love the colour and excitement of the Art Deco era, but also the dreaminess and the romantic feel of Art Nouveau.

"My own Art Nouveau pieces of work are mainly based on nature and romance, flowers, leaves and flowing lines.

"In a few pieces I've used silk and cotton which has been sun dyed using leaves and flowers from my garden.

"Meanwhile, my pieces on Art Deco are lively, rich and a bit more risqué, with velvet and beads."

Roaming from embroidered portraits to abstract patterns, from framed picture to tie-dyed evening bags, Sue's work captures both the artistic flair and the colourful fun of her 'Ragtime' inspiration.

Moving further into the exhibition, visitors will be met with a myriad of styles, subjects and media, explored masterfully by Sue Shepherd, Suzanne Snape, Eileen Norris, Caroline Percy, Nicky Robertson, Jane Holmes, Pat Bean and Susan Fielding.

Susan has created a series of beautifully lifelike hummingbirds, frozen for a moment in their feathery flit on ink painted embroidery screens.

The rich blues and purples of Susan's birds are echoed in Pat's embellished felt pictures, whose flowing, beaded shapes recreate Art Nouveau's dynamic sense of movement.

These pieces are in pleasing contrast with Jane's 'Morecambe Memories series', whose neat circles and lines represent the Art Deco style of Morecambe's Midland Hotel in close and stylized focus.

On the other side of the gallery space, Jane's abstract shapes find a more literal counterpoint in Eileen's embroidered canvas wall hanging, 'Josephine, Toast of Paris', which use beads and feathers to give breath and life to its dancing figures.

With all of its varied textures and themes, 'Ragtime' promises both to delight the senses and engage the mind, drawing the eye into its intricate details and elegant colour palettes.

Tomorrow (Friday 2 July), there will be a 'Meet the Artists' evening at Castle Park Arts Centre courtyard between 7pm and 9pm. All are welcome to come along and enjoy the live music, refreshments and, of course, the beautiful exhibitions!

You can find out more about the National Progression artists on their website.

Further details about 'Ragtime' can be found on the Castle Park Arts Centre website.