Ceramics
Find covetable pieces for your home from a select group of talented ceramicists including London based Elizabeth Renton who makes hand thrown functional tableware in a delicate colour palette of muted tones and Chito Kuroda who creates modern porcelain vases and bottles on a wheel using simple forms with clean surfaces, which engender a feeling of calmness. Jill Ford’s contemporary bowls, vases and vessels explore the organic characteristics of porcelain: translucency, whiteness, smoothness and strength combined with an illusion of fragility whilst Scotland’s Sian Patterson creates ceramics as ‘functional still life’ and showcases a quiet collection of work both familiar and distinctive. With a nod towards knit and embroidery, Annette Bugansky produces tactile porcelain vessels with experimental and intricate textile surface patterns.
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| Elizabeth Renton, Ceramics. |
Glass
See an astonishing array of glassware at this year’s show from the likes of talented Samantha Sweet who uses traditional cutting techniques to decorate contemporary hand blown lead crystal glass and Assenden Glass who manipulate the medium to create beautiful, colourful forms from recycled glass. Elin Isaksson makes hand blown glass in sleek and tactile Scandinavian forms and Vicky Higginson takes inspiration from Japanese arts and culture to produce elegant hand-blown glass art and functional vessels.
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| Samantha Sweet, Glass. |
Textiles
Snuggle up this winter with cosy knits by Hattie Kerrs and Katie Mawson, add a pop of colour to your wardrobe with Taisir Gibreel’s vibrant printed silks or a touch of elegance with hats by established milliner, Karen Henriksen. For perfect accessories, look no further than Nell Harper’s delicious leather bags which celebrate traditional handcrafted skills in a contemporary and functional form and not forgetting Scottish maker Catherine Aitken whose collection of bags, made with Harris Tweeds, waxed cotton and Scottish linens, embody style, strength and luxury.
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| Katie Mawson, Textiles. |
Jewellery
Shop for innovative designs and luxurious pieces, just in time for Christmas. Sabine Konig’s bold and striking precious metal jewellery uses vibrant unusual gemstones; by combining brushed silver with freshwater pearls Sabine creates classic pieces with a modern twist. Victoria Walker specialises in fine kinetic jewellery inspired by the beauty of natural forms. Her signature seed-pod lockets feature tiny articulated flowers that emerge and dramatically unfold into bloom. Lesley Strickland uses innovative materials combining cellulose acetate and silver to produce colourful pieces and Joana Cunha’s playful work blends traditional jewellery skills with new technologies and materials.
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| Joana Cunha, Jewellery. |
Metal
Discover exquisite silverware from talented UK based silversmiths including Adrian Hope who draws on the past to create nostalgic forms which are at once tactile, simple and unique and Jen Ricketts who transforms iconic skylines into elegant, decorative pieces. Sally Cox takes classical elements and gives them a contemporary twist to produce her functional tableware and Helen London utilises the traditional technique of filigree to create intricate pieces of sleek contemporary designs. For scrumptious textures and decadent forms, look no further than Zoe Watts’ lovingly hand-fashioned silver vessels.
This a rare opportunity to see such a varied collection of original and beautiful work, all handmade right here in the UK. With Christmas just around the corner, The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair could be the answer to your search for that really special gift. Book your ticket now.
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| Sally Cox, Metal. |
Highlights for 2015
Fresh Talent in British Craft & Design
Not to be missed at the fair this year is the New Graduate Showcase, supported by Arts Thread. Alongside established and well-known makers the show celebrates new talent, and invites you to meet designers at the very start of their career. The team at Arts Thread have carefully selected the brightest new talent in fashion and interiors to present their work in a dedicated gallery area in what for many will be their first professional show. 
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