In Celebration of Craft

The multi-award-winning Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey returns this year from 10–12 September

11 August 2021

Showcasing over 200 of the finest contemporary designer-makers, visitors to this year’s Craft Festival can meet and buy from interesting and inspirational artists, and enjoy a variety of demonstrations including pottery, printmaking, textiles, woodworking and willow sculpture.

Hundreds of visitors get involved each year in making jewellery, throwing pots, binding books, weaving baskets and creating lithographic prints. Choose from over 20, two-hour workshops being hosted at this year’s event – book in advance as spaces sell out fast.

To give you a taste of what to expect, Devon Home has highlighted some of the local artists and makers exhibiting at this year’s event.

Open 9am to 5.30pm daily. Advance Tickets only, available at: www.craftfestival.co.uk

Hilary Burns, near Paignton

Hilary (main picture) is a basket weaver who makes both functional baskets and sculptural pieces, working sustainably and seasonally. She’s a leading member of Bovey’s Devon Guild and the Heritage Craft Association, and was awarded an MBE in this year’s Queen’s Honours List for her services to craft.

www.hilaryburns.com

Teresa Green, Ide

Teresa started her textile business over 20 years ago. Her collection includes a range of reversible skirts that create an A-line silhouette, loose batwing and boxy tops, dungarees, wrap trousers, wool capes, and maybe a waxed raincoat or two!

www.teresagreen.co.uk

Silver and Gold earrings by Rebecca Furze

Rebecca Furze, Hennock

Rebecca makes beautiful jewellery in silver and gold and loves creating contemporary wearable pieces with a nod to history.

www.rebeccafurzejewellery.com

Takahashi McGil, Torquay

The husband and wife team behind Takahashi McGil create functional homeware and furniture made from a mix of local or sustainable hardwoods from their Cockington Court studio in Devon.

South African born Mark McGilvray and Kaori Takahashi from Japan combine time-honoured Japanese traditions honed in Tokyo with western techniques.

www.takahashimcgil.com

Warriner Leather, Okehampton

You’ll find Katy Warriner (of Warriner Leather) in the StartUP section of Craft Festival – an area dedicated to fledgling businesses.

After a career that has spanned professional equine grooming, eventing and festival management, Katy began designing and making leather goods from her workshop near Okehampton. Using traditional tools and techniques, Katy works hard to design and craft items that are both simple and traditional.

www.warrinerleatherworks.co.uk

Rosie Brewer, Buckfastleigh

Rosie Brewer, an artist and designer-maker, creates a range of functional products as well as one-off art pieces using sustainably sourced wood. She creates thoughtfully considered, minimalist and sleek homewares including spoons, spatulas and chopping boards of all sizes. Working with wood is part of her DNA.

www.rosiebrewer.com

Jacob Wood, Paignton

Jacob Wood, a carpenter and green wood worker, joins Hilary Burns in the Out of the Woods tent. He turns bowls and other wooden ware, including plates, cups and lidded pots on a traditional pole lathe that he built himself. The entire process from log to bowl is done using only hand tools and a foot-powered lathe.

www.instagram.com/jacob_wood_turning

Russell Kingston, Lydford

Russell Kingston makes Devonshire Slipware. His vibrant take on traditional slipware, a style of earthenware pottery rooted in North Devon, is decorated with liquid slip and fired with a glossy glaze.

Russell decorates his robust kitchenware from his workshop with fluid and spontaneous sloshes of highly appealing earthy colours, giving this traditional kind of usable pottery a contemporary finish.