Scottish Makers join silver celebrations at Chelsea Crafts Fair

This year a record number of Scottish designer-makers took part in Chelsea Crafts Fair which showcases established and emerging talent from across the UK and was held at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London from 12 - 24 October 2004.   The designers taking part for the first time received support from the Scottish Arts Council to participate in the event and many others received professional development grants to help them develop their careers to this stage.

“If I saw their work and I liked it I bullied them into taking a stand” explains Lady Philippa Powell, founder of Chelsea Crafts Fair talking about the first fair.  “I had to twist a few arms but they didn’t seem to mind once they were there and selling!”   The first fair attracted 1,200 visitors. Twenty-five years later the story couldn’t be more different.  In 2004 over 25,000 people are expected to visit the event to see and buy work by over 220 exhibitors.

Today the best craftspeople from across the UK and Europe apply to sell their work at the event, and it is an indication of the high quality of craft in Scotland that this year a record number of Scottish makers will be taking part in Europe’s finest showcase for contemporary crafts.
 
Ten of the 23 designers who went to London took part for the first time including jewellers Grace Girvan, Clare Hillerby, Susan Kerr, Alison Macleod and Suilven Plazalska, furniture designer Mark Devlin, ceramicist Craig Mitchell, glass artist Inge Panneels, textile designer Marie Ann Weir and basketmaker Lizzie Farey.

The other designers selected were textile designers James Donald, Mogwaii (Sarah Campbell), Margaret Wilson. 

Supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council