Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

Lemon tart and a latte from Cafe Nero

Yesterday I went to the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at the Old Granada Studios in Manchester. It was my first time attending the event and as soon as i had bought my ticket, i felt giddy and inspired! This event was named 'Tourism Event of the Year 2014' and i could see why! There was over 175 designers and makers. I took full advantage of the event and networked like crazy.

Two artists that really influenced me were Jasmine Simpson, an emerging ceramic maker and Claire Murray, a surface pattern designer. Jasmine Simpson is based in Staffordshire and i thought her pieces are enchanting, especially the paint splattered bear which i deeply regret not buying. She was really friendly and we had a good natter about university. Jasmine gave me some good advice - to use the facilities and support to their full potential. I guess it's what I'm paying for but i forget to ask for more. For more information, more guidance, more experience.. So now i've written a note on my studio wall to push for more. Thank you Jasmine!

Jasmine Simpson

I instantly fell in love with Claire Murray's work. There was a wallpaper called 'Flight' (it's the first wallpaper on the left, in the image below), it was so elegant and had a sense of life to it. As soon as i saw it, i was daydreaming about my future house with that wallpaper on a feature wall, along with a matching lampshade and cushions. It's truly a delightful design and Claire is lovely!

Claire Murray

I bought a card from Ruth Green (It's the yellow card with the sleeping dog on it, pictured below), her work is clearly inspired by the British countryside. At the moment i am overcoming my fear of using bright colours in my work, so it was refreshing to see Ruth's work at the Craft Fair.

There were many artists that inspired me at the craft fair and to name a few, Sarah Cemmick, a lino print artist, Abigail Bury, a recent textile graduate from Hereford College of Arts and Emilie Taylor, a ceramic artist that reminds me of Grayson Perry's Turner Prize winning vase.