Spring Craft Fair - Saturday 1st April / 11am - 4pm
The HopBarn is extremely excited to host a Spring Craft Fair in support of The Teenage Cancer Trust.
The event which will take place on Saturday 1st April from 11am - 4pm features over 10 highly successful and skilled artisans from the local area as well as from across the country.
The level of skill and artistry is exceptional and we are delighted to be able to bring together such a diverse range of artistic mediums including work in textiles, fine art, wood and metal working, ceramics, glass, silk printing and jewellery amongst other areas still to be confirmed.
The event will be hosted with all profits from the entrance fee, refreshments and planned raffles and activities going towards The Teenage Cancer Trust.
Seven young people are diagnosed with cancer every day, and Teenage Cancer Trust exist to ensure that those young people, and their family and friends, do not have to face cancer alone.
They are the only UK charity dedicated to supporting 13-24 year olds diagnosed with cancer, from diagnoses, throughout treatment, and long after treatment has finished. Working in 28 wards in NHS Principal Treatment Centres, in hospitals nationwide, in young people’s homes and at events, their staff are there to make sure that young people and their families and friends always have someone to turn to.
To find out more about the Teenage Cancer Trust, click the logo image above and it will open the website in a new window.
Artisans Exhibiting on 1st April include (but not limited to):
Jane Lightfoot Designs
I am a local designer maker who loves to create beautiful textiles and teach others to do the same at my textile workshops. I have a passion for appliqué but also enjoy using a variety of techniques including; drawing with my sewing machine, hand embroidery, patch-work and quilting to produce quirky soft furnishings, accessories and gifts. I also work to commission producing one-off textile designs from beautiful hand embroidered wedding albums to appliquéd cushions and pictures.
Click Here to go to Jane's website.
Claire Brown - The Spoon Maker
Claire's silver designs, such as spoons and jewellery focus on the utilisation of simple unambiguous forms and thus the creations are unique and non fussy.
Why spoons? I grew up in Scotland where my parents loved rummaging around antique shops and fairs. When I was about 7, my sister and I spotted a beautiful spoon with an odd tear drop shape with a crown at the end of the handle. It was £15 and way above our budget, I’ve always wondered what happened to that spoon...
I now design and make my own spoons. I have been working in silver since 2008 and I have my work hallmarked by the London Assay Office with my own makers mark. The hallmarking process also includes a year mark so your piece has the date confirming when it was hallmarked. All pieces are made by hand which takes time to create the high quality finish and detail.
I work in Cambridgeshire and I love to return to my native Scotland which gives me inspiration which I to bring to my design work. I focus on simple clean lines to make unique usable pieces. I hope these bespoke items make a special present perhaps the birth of a wee one, a christening, a birthday present, a wedding or 25th Silver wedding anniversary or just a gift of a unique piece of jewellery
My collection includes a range of silver items which can have gold embellishments added to them. The pieces include spoons, tooth fairy tubs, brooches and necklaces, cufflinks and other jewellery items. I would love to hear your thoughts about the designs and if you are interested in speaking to me further about my work.
Click Here to go to Claire's Website.
Jude Rawson - Fine Art
I have always had a passion for art and was never far away from a drawing pad as a child. As a young adult I was entranced by the work of the Pre-Raphaelites and, as I couldn’t afford the originals, taught myself to paint in their style.
In recent years I have also enjoyed working in watercolour and have found the buildings and countryside around my home in Upton, near Southwell, quite an inspiration.
In addition I also enjoy painting human and animal portraits in oils and watercolours and am always happy to accept commissions – all I need is a couple of good photos.
Since moving to this part of Nottinghamshire in 2005 I have had exhibitions at the Gilstrap Centre, the Newark Museum,Southwell Medical Centre and Southwell Library. I am currently part of the Nottinhamshire Open Studios programme and will be part of the Upton Open Studio weekend this Summer.
Click Here to see more of Jude's work.
Mark Greene - Reclaimed Wood Working
The essence of my work is to use reclaimed wood and materials collected from a variety of sources. My approach is to create natural simplistic pieces which have a rustic feel and look to them, each piece unique to itself.
Much of the wood I use is sourced locally. It can be salvaged from old farm gates and fences, disused doors, old house/barn beams, even old redundant furniture has been dismantled and the wood reused. The wood used can literally be from anywhere. The underlying factor for its continued use is that it must be strong and woodworm free.
The process of allowing a piece of timber to live on in another form is a particularly rewarding experience. Many of my pieces are very much character driven due to the age and nature of the wood used. Sometimes I find myself using timber which is hundreds of years old. As regards species of wood used, I work with many different varieties; oak, however, remains a particular favourite.
I work principally on a commission based process producing varied pieces, ranging from small candle holders and boxes to larger pieces such as chests, tables and bookcases. My work is displayed in a selection of galleries, and is also available in several different shops.
Click Here to go to Mark's Website.
Susan Isaac - Fine Art
Originally training in fine art, Susan developed her interest in the history of art and design and then worked for several years as an archaeological illustrator before returning in the late 1990s to concentrate on painting and sculpture. In her contemporary fine art work Susan endeavours to capture the spirit of things or places she has known, seeking to illuminate aspects of the world that have captured her imagination - to evoke feeling. Visitors to Susan's studio in Upton are always welcome. If you would like to visit the studio or just find out more about Susan's current events, please contact Susan on 01636 812279, or email susan@susan-isaac.co.uk
Katherine Edge - Silk Painting
My silk painting workshop, Designer Silk, is based in North Staffordshire and it is in this area, arts and travel that my inspiration is found. Living in the countryside in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands at the start of The Peak District my work is influenced by the moods and character of the changing seasons, and landscape. The diverse aspects of character from the colourful cottage gardens and pretty villages, green and winding river valleys to the dramatic often stark and bleak moors are a great inspiration for the artist’s soul.
Working as a silk painter takes me all over the country to art, craft and designs shows where I exhibit and sell my work, often held in the grounds of stately homes or arts centres. My work is also available through a select number of galleries and shops, my on-line shop, directly from me and bespoke items by commission. Other facets of my work include giving talks on silk and silk painting.
It is still a joy to me that I’ve been working as a professional silk painter for over 25 years specialising in the Serti technique using gutta outlines which give structure to my designs. As is the case with many artists I was encouraged to follow a formal career path gaining a degree in Economics and Management Science from Stirling University which qualifies me as a management consultant. I progressed to a career at the top of British industry, working for Amstrad UK in Administrative Management and Personnel and ICL as a Management Accountant all ideal preparation for becoming self-employed and running my own business.
“As a designer/maker I am passionate about individually designed and crafted things, whether they are beautiful works of art or functional items such as clothing, or perhaps both. I love experimenting with new ideas and techniques and pushing the boundaries of traditional silk painting. Inspiration can take on many wonderful and diverse forms, I find, for whilst living in The Staffordshire Moorlands most of my creativity has its origins in natural forms or patterns, however, it is also present in the industrial skylines of nearby Stoke-on-Trent, home to the Pottery Industry, or a company logo which can be painted on a tie or scarf!
An increasing part of my work is by commission, interpreting clients own ideas to produce bespoke designs or painting one of my existing designs in colours to order but I still love to let my creativity wander to come up with new designs and colours.”
Click Here to go to Katherine's Website
Susan Morton - Ceramics
Sixteen years ago I started pottery at an Adult Education class in Chichester which I loved. Unfortunately that all came to an end with our teacher retiring and no professional potter taking her place. I decided that if I was going to make any progress with my potting I had to build my own facilities at home, and this I did. That is when I really started to learn!
At about this time I went on a fantastic two week course with David and Margaret Frith one of the country’s leading duo of potters. The experience that I gained from them set the ball rolling and I plucked up courage to enter the Southern Ceramics Group’s shows.
We moved to Upton nearly six years ago not knowing that there was such a hive of art activity in the village. I have taken part each year since we arrived in the Notts Open Studios in May and a Christmas Open Studios. What luck!
All my work is stoneware and has recently focused on the building of bird baths but I also produce domestic ware, such as mugs, jugs, bowls, bottles etc. I develop my own glazes and I have an electric kiln at home in my pottery studio but I have also been introduced to firing in wood fired kilns which allows a greater range of glazes to be used.
The whole process of producing a pot from a lump of clay is so exciting that I think everybody should throw down and get potting!
Caroline Jordan - Fine Art / Metal Working
It would be hard to catagorize my work as I have always enjoyed an eclectic mix of arts and crafts. Although most of my earlier work focussed on pastel landscapes, seascapes and still life, I moved to acrylics on canvas finding the medium was ideal to create large images of colourful flowers and abstract scenes inspired by my garden. As a passionate re-cycler and collector I began creating 3D collage work from found objects. I also attended evening classes in welding which I loved and established a small workshop in my studio making crosses, garden sculptures, and candle holders from old metal. I have found the collage work and welding particularly exciting in expressing my faith as a Christian and pieces have been used often at Christian events and services across the country. I work from my studio in Upton tajking part annually in the Open Studios. I am always trying different things and enjoy simply being creative.
The HopBarn would like to extend its gratitude to all the artisans who have confirmed their attendance at this event and we look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far at the Craft Fair.
Access Requirements
If you have any particular access needs and requirements, please contact The HopBarn directly either by e-mail at info@thehopbarn.org.uk or phone 07880 973 365 to discuss with a member of The HopBarn team.
