Nineteen of Scotland’s leading and emerging designer-makers have been chosen to show and sell their work at Chelsea Crafts Fair 2005 held at Chelsea Town Hall in London in October.

In week one (11 to 16 October) there are fourteen Scottish designers taking part including first time exhibitors knitted textile artist Claire Ferguson who formerly worked for Calvin Klein in New York and now creates unconventional three dimensional designs in cashmere and lambswool:  Fiona Allardyce-Lewis who creates hand painted interior items decorated with humorous scenes or lavish interiors; jeweller Naoko Yoshizawa who designs jewellery using paper and silver and ceramist Susan Basham who will be showing porcelain sculptures inspired by the colours, windows and architectural detail of Venetian buildings.

The other Scottish designers taking part in week one are sculptural basketweaver Lizzie Farey, textile designers Jane Keith and Tessuti, jewellers Clare Hillerby, Susan Kerr, Alison Macleod, Grainne Morton and Kaz Robertson, glass artist Inge Panneels and interior textile designer Mogwaii.

In week two (18 to 23 October) all five exhibitors have been selected for the first time.  They are basketmaker Lise Bech who has developed a range of organic sculptural pod shapes; jeweller Hannah Louise Lamb whose work is inspired by interior fabrics, pets and familiar imagery of the home;  Lin Cunningham who has designed a range of scarves using richly coloured and subtly textured fabrics; Shimara Carlow who creates small and large pod vessels, bowls, carafes and tableware using silver and gold and and Teena Ramsay who designs jewellery with sections which slide so the wearer can personalise it.

The Scottish designers exhibiting at Chelsea for the first time will receive 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.

Head of Crafts at the Scottish Arts Council, Dr Helen Bennett, said “Chelsea stands for excellence and has become renowned for identifying trends and setting fashions.   The innovative work by our Scottish designers is well-suited to this exceptional event which focuses on quality and skill and showcases contemporary craft which is vibrant and original.”

Another eleven Scottish designers are on the reserve list for Chelsea Crafts Fair so the number of designers from Scotland may still increase before October.  They are glass artists Graham Muir and Inge Panneels; wood designer Fiona Allardyce-Lewis; furniture designer Adrian McCurdy; jewellers Teena Ramsay, Kaz Robertson and Naoko Yoshizawa; silversmith Adrian Hope; textile designer James Donald and ceramicists Fiona Thompson and Andrea Walsh.

Chelsea Crafts Fair is presented by the Crafts Council and information about tickets and opening hours can be found at www.craftscouncil.org.uk/chelsea2005