Shropshire Guild of contemporary craft

Chairman of the Shropshire Guild and Coalport ceramicist Ralph Jandrell said "the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft was formed in 2001 to promote, display and sell the work of designer makers working in Shropshire. Our members use traditional skills and techniques, alongside innovative modern methods, to produce beautiful contemporary work of the highest calibre."

Ralph continued "Gorgeous is the biggest contemporary craft event in the region and will feature a wide variety of disciplines from very creative designer makers. This fantastic exhibition will include Guild members and guests who have created wonderful pieces of furniture, jewellery, fabrics, ceramics and basketry."

This year, Gorgeous will also be hosting an array of craft demonstrations. Ralph continued "we are lucky enough to be able to have 5 designer makers demonstrating at this year's event, including basket maker Ted Bruce, from Ellesmere."

Ted has been making baskets since 1998, and said "I was initially self taught but studied with some of the best basket makers in Britain." He continued "I am inspired by the beautiful Shropshire countryside in which I have lived and worked for 20 years, I now work with English willow, some of which I grow myself, to make strong attractive functional baskets for a wide variety of domestic and garden situations."

Another demonstrator at this year's event is Cardington based Stevie Walker.

Stevie works with textiles to produce textile panels, pictures, jewellery and accessories using a variety of both traditional and contemporary textile techniques including hand and machine embroidery, weaving, dying, felting and computer generated imaging.

Stevie said "I get bored using only one technique and like to combine them in interesting ways. Materials vary from silk, linen and calico to hand-made felt and mixed media, sometimes using my own handspun threads and fibres to enrich the work."

Stevie's inspiration not only comes from the magic and atmosphere of the Shropshire landscape but also from other influences such as the work of Samuel Palmer, Gustav Klimt and Edward Burne-Jones.

Oswestry based fine furniture maker Martin Howard is one of the exhibitors at this year's 'Gorgeous'.

Martin, who produces individually handmade furniture employs traditional cabinet making skills to produce a wide selection of contemporary items. Celebrating his 10^th year in business, Martin said "the last ten years have been the hardest working years of my life, but also the most rewarding." Martin continued "this year has been my most successful, despite the economic downturn in consumer spending. Hopefully the next ten years will be very good, with undoubtedly a few pit falls along the way". Exhibiting at Gorgeous for the fourth time, Martin said "Gorgeous is a great opportunity for designer makers to show what exceptional creative talent there is available within the county".  

Blake and Janette Mackinnon, based near Ludlow are also members of the Shropshire Guild who are exhibiting at 'Gorgeous'. Makers of ceramic designer jewellery using their own porcelain and terracotta beads, Blake and Janette's range also includes brooches, bracelets, buttons and clocks. Blake said “we have exhibited at all the previous ‘Gorgeouses’. It is a great venue with a good atmosphere and the quality of makers who have shown before have set it up to be one of the best shows of contemporary craft  in Shropshire.”

Steve Miller, Chief Executive of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums said "the annual Gorgeous Exhibition is one of the highpoints in the Ironbridge year. It reminds us all what a remarkably creative county Shropshire is and the wealth of talent that lives here. It is a great privilege for the Museum to welcome back the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft to Coalbrookdale, especially in 2009 when we mark the tercentenary of Abraham Darby smelting iron with coke and starting the Industrial Revolution. He was arguably one of the region's greatest creative and innovative minds and it is wonderful to see that spirit still very much alive and flourishing here in the World Heritage Site."

Steve continued "I look forward to once again talking to the many designer-makers at the exhibition and having the opportunity to purchase some of their extraordinary creations. 

Last year I bought a fantastic glass dish that now sits on the fireplace in my sitting room at home. Visitors always comment on the colours that it contains, especially when it catches the light."

This unique selling exhibition will be held at Enginuity, Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge. The event is open from 10am - 5pm on Saturday October 10th and 10am - 4.30pm on Sunday October 11th. 

Entrance is £2.50 for adults, and under 12's are free.

Further details about are available from the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 01952 884 391 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk