spring art fair and open studios

Jessica is a textile artist and tutor. She works predominantly with found and repurposed linens, papers and objects. Jessica layers textures, stitched musings and printed images to create nostalgic, slow-stitched textile art. Visit Jessica to browse her textile art kits, shop for cards and unique hand stitched gifts, and see her new Holy Island Landscape artwork inspired by brisk autumn walks!

David is excited to show his latest watercolour painting of the beloved Sycamore Gap tree. Inspired by its recent loss, the new artwork shows an ethereal, almost ghostly outline of where the tree once stood - ‘I wanted it to feel like a memory, or an echo of the past, honouring the tree’s presence in a more abstract way’.

Jill will be showing her colourful metal clocks and jewellery, all using her signature mixed metal style. She etches brass, copper and silver to add pattern and texture, contrasting with blue titanium details.  There are lots of new earrings, and two new more detailed clock designs featuring yet more birds!

Explore her latest ceramic sculptures and jewellery, inspired by geological features, craggy, rugged landscape and coastline, weathered and shaped by nature, including humans. New for spring, Melanie has expanded her ‘Shibui’ porcelain jewellery range and ‘Tumblestone’ sculptures. Feel the textured, lichen like surface of ‘Traced Tarn Tumblestones’, punctuated with striking bronze markings.

Visit Rebecca’s studio to explore her latest monotype paintings, capturing the dramatic seascapes of the Northumberland coast, with castles, clouds, light and reflections. Discover her new mixed-media work: landscapes with hedgerow flowers using subtle textures and soft colours. Browse her wide range of colourful landscape prints and take advantage of a special offer on greetings cards.

Jina loves capturing the expressions and characters of British wildlife using ink and watercolours. Her work is vibrant and has a tendency to make people smile. Jina also works on bespoke commissions or pet portraits and her attic studio is filled with lots of homeware and gifts featuring her animal illustrations.

Cathy is so sorry she is unable to welcome you personally to her attic studio this Spring Fair. However, her studio will be open. You will be able to see and buy her work, together with sketch books and pictures by Steve Pardue, a brilliant artist and designer and well known for his Nature drawings and workshops.

Textile artist, educator and author. Her collages, bird portraits, fabric books and work with garments bring together precious fragments to form evocative compositions. She uses very old fabrics - fragments of north country quilts, found domestic embroidery and antique French linen and prints. Mandy’s studio is always a visual delight and this Spring she will be showing new work using the cyanotype process.

The Hearth Café will be serving seasonal drinks and refreshments throughout the fair. We recommend reserving a table in advance to avoid disappointment. The Cafe serves teas, freshly ground coffee, homemade cakes & scones, light lunches, and the popular all-day breakfast. Vegetarian, vegan & gluten free, licensed: craft beer & wine.

Create acid-painted designs in brass and copper, inspired by the breathtaking nature and landscapes of Northumberland. Ami’s artwork and home decor are a celebration of individuality, offering truly one-of-a-kind gifts. Her inspiring collection features coasters, placemats, mugs, notebooks, key rings, cards, cushions, bangles, earrings, cutting boards, prints, and so much more.

Using real plant material as a starting point, and then through close observation of the growth and change over the seasons, both in her garden, woods and fields, she finds new ideas to try out. Her ceramics are hand-built and press-moulded in grogged white earthenware, coloured with velvet underglazes, and dipped or poured with a clear glaze.

Jane’s work can be seen in private and public collections around the world. She was born in Edinburgh, studied numerous art disciplines and then made glass her passion. She Established Jane Charles Studio Glass in Edinburgh in 1987 and then moved the studio permanently to Newcastle in 1992.

Joanne is based in Cullercoats and paints the vibrant coast of the North East, as well as the countryside and local landmarks. Using bright, uplifting colours, her acrylic paintings evoke feelings of happiness and joy. She draws inspiration from patterns in nature, people on the beach, pebbles along the shore, birds flocking and wildflowers in the breeze. She sells original paintings, prints, greeting cards, and giftware.

After training and working in London as a theatre designer, Willa Story returned to the North in 2001 to launch her business 'Unique In Glass'.  Her stained glass and mosaic artwork and exclusive glass gifts incorporate several techniques to produce vibrant, bold and unique pieces. Willa's studio and showroom are based near Bardon Mill. Commissions welcome.

Diane makes a range of contemporary sterling silver and contrasting metal jewellery based around geometric shapes, movement and art deco style. Diane also makes a range of jewellery using sea glass found on the beaches of the Northeast coast. Her work is handmade in Northumberland.

Adele is inspired by the luscious landscapes of Northumberland and camper van explorations of Europe and the rugged mountainous scenery. She works from the Hearth Arts Centre at Horsley creating textural, atmospheric, original prints using combinations of found objects and materials.

Donna works with hand dyed fabrics and free motion embroidery in response to landscape. She goes for walks in the countryside and records the landscapes in sketchbooks, making notes and drawings. She then uses the resources to create abstracted textile landscapes. Recording these walks in textiles is her way of treasuring the beautiful places and landscape.

John began as a metal work apprentice 45 years ago and has gone onto garner both local and national prestige in the architectural metalwork industry. Every day he strives to create artwork that will have a lasting impact, and includes recycled metal components such as bicycle parts and cutlery. 

Michelle Gormley lives in the Northumberland countryside and can’t help but be influenced by the wildlife and fauna that surround her. Inspired by nature with a touch of fairytale, her needle felted animals are brought to life with clothing, props and vintage finds, giving each its own personality and creating characters that look like they’ve stepped from a storybook.

Julia Neubauer is a knitwear designer based at the Brewhouse Studios, by the river in Alston, Cumbria. Her hand framed knitwear is made from British pure wool from a Yorkshire woollen mill. Julia finds inspiration from natural forms and research into the decorative arts, particularly folk art. She makes wristwarmers, hats, headbands, scarves and neckwarmers, simple garments and homeware.

Steve is an artist and designer, living and working in Northumberland. He combines a love of walking and nature with his art and fills notebooks with poetic and immersive responses to nature and the world around him. He shares his Love of Nature through workshops, cards and paintings.

Melissa Girling is a designer and furniture-maker based in a workshop in Newcastle. She uses traditional techniques to create unique, hand-crafted pieces in wood. Alongside commissions for bespoke furniture, she has a range of wooden boxes with stacking trays (latches in collaboration with metalsmith Helen Connor) designed as special gifts with many uses including artist’s materials, sewing things, jewellery.

Oakwood Soaperie specialises in handcrafted, traditionally made, cold processed, natural soaps, botanical skincare and bathing products. They are formulated from the finest natural plant based and sustainable ingredients. Most of the botanicals are home grown in a dedicated flower plot right outside the studio.The soaps are incredibly kind and gentle on the skin and whilst treading lightly on the planet.