A PROFESSIONAL artist is recording progress on Cliffe Castle Park’s £4.5 million revitalisation project through dozens of sketches.

Deborah Rehmat is regularly posting colour pictures on her online blog as contractors restore the Keighley park to its Victorian heyday.

She is also writing about her impressions of the work being carried out to demolish rundown buildings, uncover long-lost historic features and build new visitor facilities.

Visitors to Deborah’s blog can see before-and-after sketches of features, such as the ornamental pond, glasshouses and old public toilets.

Deborah’s project is part of efforts by Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group to keep local people informed about progress on the Heritage Lottery Fund project.

A spokesman said: “Deborah is using her interest in reportage to create a fascinating record in words and pictures of the men, machines and work in progress.

“Drawings, paintings and descriptions provide a stunning view of the restoration of Cliffe Castle Park.”

In addition to Deborah’s work, Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group members are keeping a photographic record of the restoration work.

The volunteer-run group is also offering guided tours so townspeople can see the restoration work at first hand.

Group members were delighted when a crowd of people turned up for the first tour on August 28, splitting into two groups to walk round the park and hear how its historic features would be restored.

The spokesman said: “Work in the park is going on apace with the glasshouses and café building having been carefully demolished to preserve any historic materials.

“The outline of the original Cliffe Hall pond has been excavated and is taking shape. Another historic feature, Dark Lane, the old route from Aire Valley villages to Keighley, is now clear to see.”

Deborah is a a textile artist and watercolour painter, who employs many of the same techniques to make jewellery using hand-dyed paper, thread, sterling silver and gold leaf.

She started by studying graphic design at Canterbury in the early 1970s, then studied fine art textiles that Goldsmiths. During her career she has continuously make sketchbooks.

She said: “Drawing and writing are the ways in which I come to understand the world, to explore it and connect with it, and they are both so essential to me that I wonder how I’d manage to live without them.”

Deborah’s blog can be seen by visiting deborahrehmat.wordpress.com/blog, and a link is also available on the Conservation Group’s website at cliffecastlepark.org.uk.

Details of future guided walks are available from the website or by emailing info@cliffecastlepark.org.uk.