A NEW exhibition is coming to a museum to celebrate history, as well as some key modern-day themes.

Braintree Museum is opening a new exhibition, 'The Art of Freindship, in conjunction with the Warner Textile Archive on January 22 until July 2.

The exhibition explores the friendship and creativity of textile designer Marianne Straub and artist Denise Hoyle during the 1950s and 1970s, where they united their work for the first time.

Marianne and Denise became close in Great Bardfield due to their shared interests as well as their shared European status, with Marianne from Switzerland and Denise from France.

Many of Marianne’s fabrics from the Warner Textile Archive collection at the Warner Textile Archive will feature alongside Denise Hoyle’s private collection of collages, watercolours and ceramics.

Denise's work will also be showing famous tales like Pinocchio, Dick Whittington and Puss in Boots.

The exhibition has been made possible with the support of Denise and Nina Hoyle and the Emma Mason Gallery in Sussex, as well as donations from Felsted Arts Society and the Essex Lacemakers to support the exhibition.

Exhibitions and Collections Curator at the museum Claire Willetts said: “It’s a wonderful exhibition and story with great history and key themes.

“The history behind it is brilliant, it’s said that most people would’ve sat on a piece of Denise’s fabric in the 70s in the London underground, and all her woven fabrics made in Braintree.

“The topic of friendship and togetherness really hits home even more with the tough last couple of years.”