Northern Ireland craft on show at BCTF

Eight highly talented craft designer makers have been selected to show their work at the British Craft Trade Fair by Craft Northern Ireland. The makers will present their textiles, ceramics and jewellery at the event with the aim of building further business networks within the UK as part of the Craft NI group stand.

The British Craft Trade Fair is recognised as one of the leading selling events for contemporary craft in the UK and takes place in April each year at the scenic Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, Yorkshire. The fair is strictly trade-only and showcases work from exclusively British and Irish makers. Full details can be found at http://bctf.co.uk
Funded by Invest NI, this is an opportunity for Craft NI to present top quality local designer-makers ready to promote their work to new and international markets, allowing them to take their business trading skills to the next level.

Aine McKenna Ceramics

Following a degree in Fine and Applied Art from the University of Ulster, Aine completed a Masters degree in Ceramic Design for Manufacture at Staffordshire University. Specialising in surface pattern, she went to work for Royal Stafford and Poole pottery. Now in business for herself, Aine makes a range of porcelain products using paperclay, which includes porcelain envelopes, paper bags and sketch book vessels.

Mottainai Textiles

After studying Textile Design for Fashion at Manchester School of Art, Catherine Quinn moved to Japan to study Japanese textile crafts. Upon returning to Northern Ireland she wanted to combine her love of Japanese and Irish textiles. Mottainai is a creative craft studio making contemporary Irish linen homewares, hand-dyed using traditional Japanese techniques, combining the minimalist aesthetic of Japanese design with enduring quality Irish linen to produce timeless unique designs.

Docpot

Following her degree in Ceramics & Glass at Brunel University, Deirdre O’Callaghan returned to Ireland to train as a potter's apprentice at Thomastown, Kilkenny with the Crafts Council of Ireland. Following this training she took on a position as a production potter with Michael Kennedy in Galway. In 2001, Deirdre returned to her home city of Derry to start her own pottery business, Docpot, specialising in wheel thrown stoneware pottery.

Helen Faulkner Ceramics

Helen is a potter making tableware with a rich red earthen ware clay combined with colourful glazes. Her focus is on designing tableware with food in mind - will the mug sit comfortably in the hand, will it keep your coffee hot and is it big enough to get in a good caffeine hit? The range includes standard tableware items such as mugs, bowls and plates, as well as more unusual items such as ceramic cafetieres and oil pourers.

Ghost & Bonesetter

Karen Daye-Hutchinson has a degree in Sculpture from University of Ulster. Through Ghost & Bonesetter, Karen has developed products that incorporate her skills as an artist, sculptor and printer. All of her jewellery is handmade, and involves hand-forging, casting, etching and storytelling.

Rebecca Killen Ceramics

Rebecca makes unique products for the interiors and giftware markets using fine bone china, cobalt and hints of gold lustre creating luxury statement pieces for the home. The work, inspired by traditional blue and white patterns, is simple and contemporary in form and decorated using a variety of printing methods. Her current collection consists of ‘Cobalt Bottles’, ‘Cobalt Vessels’ and ‘Cobalt Dishes’.

R & H Shearer Ceramics

Rory and Helen Shearer are graduates of the University of Ulster’s College of Art and Design. They work together but each has developed their own distinct brand of creative work. Rory’s work is mostly hand-thrown, wheel-based ceramics and Helen makes small batch ceramic jewellery and framed pieces.

Mount Ida Pottery

Trevor Woods designs and develops a very unique, personal range of hand built and thrown ceramic work. His business Mount Ida Pottery has been operating for over 20 years. The studio is placed in a beautiful rural location in South Down and the inspiration for his designs reflects the idyllic backdrop of Mount Ida Pottery’s location.