A record number of 23 Scottish crafts professionals has been selected to exhibit at Europe’s leading showcase for contemporary crafts over the next two weeks, with funding support from the Scottish Arts Council.

The 23 Scottish artists, more than 10% of all exhibitors, will join the best craftspeople from across the UK and Europe at the 25th Chelsea Crafts Fair in London to exhibit and sell their work. 

More than 1,000 people apply to participate in the Chelsea Crafts Fair with only 220 selected to take part.  This year’s Scottish designers range from jewellers to ceramicists and textile designers to glass artists. 

Included in the Scottish contingent is Galloway-based basketmaker, Lizzie Farey, who last week won the prestigious BBC Homes & Antiques’ Talent Around Britain award for her ornamental willow sculptures.  The award, which celebrates the most talented craftspeople from a range of disciplines and regions across the UK, will mean that Lizzie’s work will now be displayed in the windows of three top John Lewis stores including the store at Edinburgh’s St James Centre and the company’s flagship store on Oxford Street.

The Scottish designers exhibiting at Chelsea for the first time have all received support from the Scottish Arts Council to participate at the event and many of the artists have also received professional development grants to help them develop their careers to this stage.

Helen Bennett, Head of Crafts at the Scottish Arts Council, says: ‘All exhibitors must apply to get a place in the event and the selection process is incredibly competitive.  The fact that we have a record number of Scottish crafts people participating at Chelsea this year is an indication of the high standard of crafts being produced in Scotland.

‘The work on show by Scottish artists is not only of a very high quality but is also affordable and we would urge anyone going to London in the next couple of weeks to visit the fair.  For anyone not in London, examples of the work of the Scottish craftspeople can be viewed at www.craftscotland.org.uk, a new national website, showcasing the best of Scottish craft.’

Ten of the Scottish designers heading for London will be participating for the first time, including jewellers Grace Girvan, Claire Hillerby, Susan Kerr, Alison Macleod and Suilven Plazalska, furniture designer Mark Devlin, ceramicist Craig Mitchell, glass artist Inge Panneels, textile designer Marie Ann Weir as well as Lizzie Farey.

The other designers selected are textile designers James Donald, Sarah Campbell, Margaret Wilson, Sarah Keith and Ingrid Tait, glass artist Alison Kinnaird, silversmith Grant McCaig, ceramicist Philomena Pretsell, and jewellers Donna Barry, Anna Gordon, Grainne Morton, Kaz Robertson and Emma Gale.

Presented by the Crafts Council, Chelsea Crafts Fair will take place at Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, London, SW3 from the 12–24 October 2004.  Opening hours are 11am–8pm, Tuesday to Friday and 10am–6pm, Saturday and Sunday.  For further information, visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk/chelsea2004.