“If I saw their work and I liked it I bullied them into taking a stand” explains Lady Philippa Powell, founder of Chelsea Crafts Fair talking about the first fair.  “I had to twist a few arms but they didn’t seem to mind once they were there and selling!”   The first fair attracted 1,200 visitors. Twenty five years later the story couldn’t be more different.  In 2004 over 25,000 people are expected to visit the event to see and buy work by over 220 exhibitors.

Today the best craftspeople from across the UK and Europe apply to sell their work at the event, and it is an indication of the high quality of craft in Scotland that this year a record number of Scottish makers will be taking part in Europe’s finest showcase for contemporary crafts.
 
Ten of the twenty three designers heading for London will be taking part for the first time including jewellers Grace Girvan, Clare Hillerby, Susan Kerr, Alison Macleod and Suilven Plazalska, furniture designer Mark Devlin, ceramicist Craig Mitchell, glass artist Inge Panneels, textile designer Marie Ann Weir of Cushy Number and basketmaker Lizzie Farey .

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

From the beginning, Chelsea Crafts Fair has set the precedent for showing the finest quality contemporary craft and this celebratory year is no exception as you will see from our profiles of the Scottish makers invited to take part.

The Chelsea Crafts Fair of today may be a far cry away from the early beginnings when it was put together on a ‘wing and a prayer’ by Lady Philippa Powell but it continues to be a source of enjoyment for her.  “I still get a thrill from the Chelsea Crafts Fair; huge satisfaction that it is still around, and still such a success. I have enormous admiration for both the Crafts Council and the craftspeople who produce the most beautiful exhibitions of amazing work that all of us can buy and treasure.”

Presented by the Crafts Council, Chelsea Crafts Fair will take place at Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, London SW3 from 12th - 24th October 2004 (Closed 18th October 2004).  Opening hours are 11am - 8pm Tuesday to Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday and Sunday.  Admission is £7 single visit; £10 one visit each week (£5/£7 concessions). For further information visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk/chelsea2004