Exhibitors @ London: A Celebration

Exhibitors @ London: Celebration

With just over a week to go before the show we hope to have shown you a glimpse of the huge range of jewellery, ceramics and textiles that will be available to purchase and commission at gallery@oxo in our previous blogs. Here you can meet some of the talented makers who will bring decorative objects and accessories to the show: 

Chris Edwards - Silverware

London always had a powerful attraction for Chris Edwards, as viewed from Belfast in the 60's it had a special allure, the place to aspire to, where creative energies challenged the classical and traditional.

Early impressions of London were drawn from bookplates and magazine illustrations such as those seen in Dickens's novels or vintage copies of the Illustrated London News. They portrayed a London steeped in history, redolent of the Georgian and Victorian eras illuminated by flickering candles or gas tapers. The illustrations by Hogarth, Gillray, Cruikshank and Phiz evoked scenes of contrasting fortunes: from hardship to excess, decadence to decay.

These contrasts are evident in Chris's recent work where he draws on his experience as a film production designer to create unique pieces that, whilst contemporary, are evocative of times past. His "melting" candle sconces become elements in constructions that incorporate glass, mirror and found objects. They come to life when the candles are lit, their light interacting with and animating the space around them inviting flights of the imagination.

Caroline Lukehurst

Caroline is inspired by the modern cities in which we live. She is intrigued by the way in which we interact with modern urban landscapes and the impact they have on us. She is fascinated by the way in which an everyday scene can be transformed by the seasons, growth and decay, or changing light which can re awaken our senses and elevate an everyday scene into something remarkable.

From her earliest childhood visits Caroline has always been inspired by London and tries to represent her vision of the capital in her work.

By using different colours of glass she accentuates the different moods of the city, the variations in  light from dawn to dusk and the changing seasons. Caroline incorporates her own photographic images within her handmade original pieces. Dishes with linear swathes of colour across a River Thames view. glass panels with autumnal shades of a London park or the milky blues and greys across the River Thames. Her free-standing wall panels capture iconic landmarks with a pencil sketch like quality.

Lucentia Design

Lucentia's sustainable design ethos embraces today's need for eco urban living. London: A Celebration sees the launch of their new collections inspired by the wealth and diversity of London. These beautifully unique interior accessories are designed exclusively for Lucentia from their innovative sheet materials of recycled, sustainable plastics and textiles. Fabric is selected and embedded within recycled plastic in styled colour palettes influenced by the British Art and Craft heritage. Their new collections reflect London's busy, vibrant life balanced with that of the space and calm found in its many greens and parks. All Lucentia products are totally practical for their long designed use; they are durable, heat resistant and easy to clean. Products range from table accessories to lighting; from one-offs to batch produced.

Melissa Simpson

Finding it almost impossible not to be inspired by the Olympics and the atmosphere in the culturally rich capital of London; Melissa has created a collection of bags, belts and purses to reflect the events of the coming year.

The new soft bags, belts and accessories are all trimmed with colourful leathers, taken from flags of different nations coming to the Olympics, with a sublime styled sporty look; they are still suitable for everyday use.

Melissa will also be showing her trademark structured bags edged in colour, which originated from the London underground tube lines.

Melissa's work is very much about the use of colour in leathers and paints on her beautifully crafted bags and leather good, emphasising the strong shapes.

Just Mosaics

Felicity Ball is a mosaic artist working from her studio in Bristol.  Her journey has been about finding her own way and individual style. Her mosaics have unusual depth, texture and colour. They combine the figurative and the abstract to create mosaics unlike any others.

London has inspired her to encapsulate impressions of the city in different and contemporary designs, reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of city life.  The unique 3D element of her work brings her mosaics to life and enhances any space.

The versatility of her unique take on mosaics continually drives her to create new images and challenging pieces. The variety of Felicity's work can be seen in her atmospheric scenes and her vibrant designs.  With an ever increasing palette, there is no limit to her portfolio. '

Jacki Sleator

Jacki studied Fashion & Design at Lisburn Institute, then specialised in tailoring. She began felt-making four years ago, creating individual fashion clothing and accessories. She has always been enchanted by the magic and mystery of felt-making and is continuously intrigued how fibres dynamically shape, contort, shrink, and texturise to bring to life a whole new fabric as they interact

Her use of hand-dyeing is simply another extension of this creative process with its unpredictable patterns and designs, exciting colour medleys, soft and subtle nuances or bold striking contrasts. The result, a one-off piece.

Similarly London is a dynamic, diverse and colourful cultural mix. It is ever changing, contorting and evolving yet remains exciting and pulsating with vivacity.  The River Thames is at the heart if its energy, as it silently wraps and contorts its way throughout. Who could fail to be inspired by such a city?

Anna P

London is one of the most dynamic cities in the world constantly changing yet retaining a sense of tradition. Anna and use some of this contradiction in her own collection using traditional materials, shapes and techniques but with a modern aesthetic reflecting her surroundings. London adopts cultures communities and tastes which it makes it's own and that is a great inspiration which  encourages creatives working in London to have a broad welcoming view to new ideas and trends without fear of judgement, this freedom is why so many creative people are 'Londoners'. Anna is privileged to be one of them.

Rachel Orme

London inspires Rachel through its diverse styles of architecture, mix of people, music, food and rich arts scene.

 "I have spent more than two decades living in this exciting city, I know that there is still so much more to explore and experience and that is what I love.

 Walking down a street for the first time or visiting a new area is so invigorating. Each pocket of London is so varied in terms of its different communities, each with its own identity, style and culture.

London offers and embraces freedom of expression- it never fails to inspire, challenge and stimulate. I can understand why the city has been and is home to so many creative people; the energy and constant evolution of the city is unique."

Adam Aaronson

Adam is a lifelong Londoner. In recent years, he has lived on the banks of the River Thames, taking daily delight in exploring riverside life and its urban expression and drawing inspiration from the panorama for his artworks.

In Adam's artwork, the urban landscape is viewed as a moment captured, a subjective experience of a view that is revered and loved. But those observing Adam's work seek their own landscapes and natural strata in those that have been created from the London skyline and waterscape. Adam's work depicts a serenity and open space amidst urban and industrialised living. The Thames often acts as a spacer between buildings and industry, a rare panorama along its banks.

The main body of work Adam is showing at Handmade in Britain is called 'Strata', a series of work exploring a long held fascination with layers; from layering found in the natural world of rock formation and glacial structures, to more complex sociological layering seen in aspects of everyday life. 'Strata' acts as an invitation to look beneath the surface, to avoid judging by appearances. When you are encouraged to take a closer look, you often find hidden treasure!

36 designer/makers of handmade crafts will be at London: a celebration with work available to purchase and commission. A unique shopping experience that allows you to discuss these beautiful products with the makers themselves.  

We look forward to seeing you at the show, open daily 11am-6pm,  10th - 13th May 2012 at gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf (nearest train/tube: Waterloo, Blackfriars, Southwark)

For the full list of exhibitors who will feature at our show visit www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk/exhibitors
If you have any questions email us at admin@handmadeinbritain.co.uk, or tweet us @handmadebritain

Don't forget to add #LondonACelebration to any tweets on contemporary craft and the inspirations of London in the lead up to the show