The stories and the makers behind the stalls
Ahead of the Tyneside return of the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, we caught up with six exhibitors to find out what they make, what inspires them and what visitors can expect to see
If you like discovering things before everyone else, the Great Northern Contemporary Craft & Art Fair is worth clearing some diary space for.
Returning to Newcastle later this month after a successful debut last year, the fair will once again fill Northumbria University’s Sport Central with makers, artists and designers from across the North East and beyond.
Taking place from June 18-21, the event will open with a preview evening before a full weekend of exhibitions, demonstrations and opportunities to meet artists working across disciplines including fine art, sculpture, textiles, jewellery, ceramics and furniture… and find out what inspires them to create it.
Of course, that’s one of the joys of an event like this.
In an age of online shopping, one-click purchases and an endless stream of ‘buy me!’ suggestions dictated by algorithms which think they know us better than we know ourselves, there’s increasingly something refreshing about talking directly to the person who made the thing you’re holding.
You get the story as well as the object, (and don’t have to think twice about whether AI is responsible for the information you’re receiving!)
Ahead of this year’s fair, we caught up with some of the artists and makers who will be taking part. Some are returning after exhibiting at last year’s inaugural event. Others will be experiencing the fair for the first time.
Their practices span everything from handwoven textiles and botanical casting to contemporary fashion, printmaking and furniture design, but they share a passion for making things thoughtfully and well.
Here’s a flavour of the work - and the people - visitors can expect to encounter when the doors open later this month.
Tom Ownsworth, PLYable Design
Based in Blyth, Northumberland, PLYable Design has built a reputation for creating inventive furniture, lighting and products which celebrate materials and the possibilities they hold.
As you may have guessed, plywood sits at the heart of much of the studio’s work, providing the structural backbone for pieces which combine functionality with a playful sense of design.
Returning after exhibiting at last year’s event, Tom is particularly excited to unveil a selection of previously unseen designs alongside some of PLYable’s best-known creations. Visitors can also expect to see the results of new collaborations with local artists.
Tom says the fair is an important opportunity not only to showcase work, but to help establish a major contemporary craft event in the region. He says: “The collective creative talent on show will be very inspiring, for everyone, for those of us taking part, and for all the visitors we hope to meet.” plyable.co.uk
Jordi Hemstock, Senyü
Jordi Hemstock’s work is rooted in the rich weaving traditions of Nagaland in North East India, where she learned the ancient art of backstrap loom weaving as a child sitting alongside her grandmother.
She started her brand Senyü after coming to study for her Masters at Northumbria University in 2014.
Jordi works with women weavers from her home region to create textiles for contemporary homes, including soft furnishings, accessories and homewares. Every piece carries motifs and techniques passed down through generations, while also creating economic opportunities for skilled makers in remote communities.
As well as exploring new additions to the Senyü collection, this year’s fair will see Jordi bringing her backstrap loom to the fair to demonstrate the process live. Visitors will be able to see (and even try) a weaving tradition rarely encountered in Europe.
After winning Best in Show at last year’s event, Jordi is delighted to return. She says: “The fair attracts a genuinely thoughtful audience, people who champion makers, seek out sustainable and ethical production and appreciate the stories behind beautifully crafted work, and that is who I make for.” senyucraft.com
Laura Wigham, Wild North Studio
For printmaker and illustrator Laura Wigham, the landscapes, wildlife and stories of the North are both inspiration and subject matter.
Working under the name Wild North Studio, Laura explores the region through hand-printed linocut and woodcut artworks, many of which begin with sketchbook walks through the places which inspire her most.
She says: “I’ve always lived in the North East and I’m massively influenced by its nature, landscapes and people. At its core, my work is built on years of admiring the nature and uniqueness of the area.”
A returning exhibitor at the fair, Laura is looking forward to sharing a new selection of hand-printed works inspired by the natural world as well as enjoying the “amazing and vast display of crafts from so many disciplines!”
Paula Smart, Wild at Heart Art
Paula Smart’s botanical castings began as a hobby around 10 years ago. Since then, the collection has steadily grown alongside a 15-year career in photography, reaching the point where the North East artist feels ready to give the work centre stage.
Through Wild at Heart Art, she creates decorative bas-relief wall panels using botanical materials which are either grown by her or responsibly foraged from locations across the North East. Cast in materials including plaster, terracotta and concrete, the works celebrate the beauty of seasonal flora while preserving fleeting moments from the natural world.
Visitors to this year’s fair can expect to see a range of panels inspired by locally grown foliage, as well as examples of commissioned pieces created to mark significant life events. wildatheartart.co.uk
Louise Brooke
Textile artist Louise Brooke creates handcrafted velvet banners which transform meaningful words, phrases and memories into striking contemporary artworks.
Drawing on the rich tradition of community banners, her work combines hand-cut lettering with richly coloured cotton velvet to create pieces which are deeply personal while also speaking to shared histories and connections. Whether inspired by song lyrics, family sayings, poetry or private jokes, each banner tells a story.
She says: “My work is a contemporary take on traditional banners, evoking the rich heritage of women’s work. I love that banners were symbolic of uniting a community or group, and using them to celebrate the words or sentiment that means most to someone.” louisebrooke.com
Harriet Eccleston
Family history sits at the heart of Harriet Eccleston’s eponymous clothing label.
Inspired by generations of tailors and drapers in her family, Northumbria University graduate Harriet - who will be travelling to the North East from her base in Sheffield - designs and makes “timeless womenswear” influenced by traditional British menswear and crafted using responsibly sourced materials, including locally woven cloth wherever possible.
Her collections are built around longevity, thoughtful details and the stories that clothes can carry.
Visitors to the fair will discover beautifully made shirts, relaxed summer styles, tailored sleeveless pieces and her newer Powerful Pocket T-shirts, inspired by the suffragettes’ fight for freedom and independence.
She says: “The North East is where many of my creative influences began. My family ran menswear shops in Blyth and Morpeth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the stories and skills passed down through generations continue to shape my work today.” harrieteccleston.co.uk
The Great Northern Contemporary Craft & Art Fair takes place at Sports Central, Northumberland University from June 18-21 (preview event on June 18). For more information and bookings, visit www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk