What a fantastic day at the 20th Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey! As a designer, I found it a great source of inspiration and creativity.
The festival was a vibrant celebration of craftsmanship, featuring a wide array of art forms. The variety of crafts, from delicate ceramics and intricate textiles to stunning jewellery and captivating glasswork, was extraordinary. Each stand was a testament to the artists' skill, creativity and passion.
I had the opportunity to meet the artisans behind these artworks. Their commitment to their craft was evident, and their stories added depth to their creations. Christian O’Reilly was there showcasing his handcrafted furniture. I also met Pippa Ryan, whose intriguing art transforms vintage objects and discarded keepsakes into three-dimensional pieces. Each item holds its own cultural significance, practical use, and fascinating history.
Pippa believes that every object has a story to tell, even after it's served its original purpose. She curates collections of vintage objects, giving them new life through her charming, quirky artwork, which serves as miniature museums of captivating stories. I hope to incorporate her work into one of my projects.
Another standout was wirework artist, Helaina Sharpley. The intricate elegance of her pieces was captivating, and her enthusiasm for her craft was truly contagious. She creates detailed and elegant wirework wall pieces that blur the lines between drawing and sculpture.
In addition to the visual feast of crafts, the festival offered a range of food stalls, serving delicious international and local cuisine. Enjoying these gourmet treats under the clear, sunny sky enhanced the overall experience.
The workshops and demonstrations provided unique insights into the creative process behind the crafts. The vintage mobile cinema, Audrey, showing various informative films, was fascinating.
The Craft Festival at Bovey Tracey was a day filled with inspiration, creativity, delicious food, and sunshine. I returned home with a wealth of new ideas, a heart full of inspiration, and contacts of creators of unique pieces that I'm excited to incorporate into my projects.