The Cream Of The South Weat Designer-Makers In London
Best of South West Design Showcased at Origin, The London Craft Fair

27 September 2006, London: From a young jeweller who makes rings embossed with cheeky statements in Braille to an award-winning hat designer whose clients include Christina Aguilera and Helen Bonham-Carter, some of the most talented designer-makers from the south west of England will be taking part in Origin, The London Craft Fair (www.craftscouncil.org.uk) which runs from 3 - 15 October at Somerset House.

Origin brings together over 300 of the most innovative and influential international design-makers to sell their work. Glass, ceramics, jewellery, metal, furniture, paper, basketry, wood and textiles are all represented, making the fair a true celebration of the unique and the hand-made.

The south west of England has long been rich in art, craft and design. From Barbara Hepworth to Bernard Leach, the south west region has been home to some of the most creative people in the U.K. Twenty nine designer-makers from the south west area are exhibiting at Origin, a Crafts Council initiative, which is testament to the strength and vibrancy of the creative industries in the region.

Some of the rising talent in south west design exhibiting at Origin includes:

• Ambre France (www.ambrefrance.co.uk) Stand A9, Week 1
  Ambre France, 30, makes highly innovative jewellery in precious metals from shapes and materials found in the building industry for example jubilee clips and cable ties. She also has a range of rings and bracelets stamped with cheeky slogans in braille including Do Not Touch and Hands Off. Amber studied at Camberwell College of Art and then completed an MA in silversmithing and jewellery at London Metropolitan University. Ambre is based at Plymouth College of Art and Design as part of Next Move, a scheme run by the Arts Council and Crafts Council to help designer-makers to set up their businesses by providing workspace, equipment, grants, training and promotion opportunities. Ambre has been given a £1,860 Arts Council grant to enable her to take part in the fair.
  
  
• Kamini Chauhan (www.kaminichauhan.com) Stand J6, Week1
  Kamini Chauhan, 29, creates bright and contemporary glass products which are influenced by Japanese styles of art known as Ikebana. Her fluid and floral-inspired vases and vessels have led to her being hailed as a rising new talent in the design world. In 2004, Kamini was commissioned to design and make a glass installation for display at the National Grid Transco headquarters in Warwickshire. Harrods has selected Kamini to display her work in a one-off solo show during October 2006. Kamini, who completed a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art in London before moving to Plymouth, exhibited at the Milan Furniture Fair this year, a fantastic accolade for a young designer. Since September 2005, Kamini has been based at Plymouth College of Art and Design as part of Next Move, a scheme run by the Arts Council and Crafts Council to help designer-makers to set up their businesses by providing workspace, equipment, grants, training and promotion opportunities.
  
  
• Sarah Cant (www.sarahcant.co.uk) Stand B5 Week 1
  Sarah Cant has a growing reputation for her original and striking hat designs and her clients include Christina Aguilera and Helena Bonham Carter. Sarah has recently been awarded the top three prizes in The Hat Designer of the Year 2005 Competition and her hats will feature in a documentary series, The Great British Summer, which airs on BBC1 in November 2006 which captures the spirit of summertime hat-wearing events across the U.K. The award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George featuring Sarah Cant's hats has transferred to the West End and is currently running at The Wyndhams Theatre until September 2006. Sarah has been given a £1,000 Arts Council grant to enable her to take part in the fair.
  
  
• Liz Clay (www.lizclay.co.uk) Stand D7, Week 1
  Liz Clay uses a unique felting technique to create light, paper-like fabrics to make scarves, boas and wraps which has earned her a growing reputation in the fashion world - Donna Karan is a fan. Paris fashion house Givenchy recently used her designs in both their Haute Couture autumn/winter 2005 and Ready to Wear autumn/winter 2006 collections. Harrods will display a one-off ball gown designed by Liz in her signature felt during October and some of her other products will also be on display in the store. Her designs are sold at several exclusive retail outlets such as Egg and Browns in London.
  
  
• James Maclachlan (www.jamesmcalachlan.com) Stand N2, Week 1
  James Maclachlan, 27, creates decorative and functional glass objects that take their inspiration from natural changes in state, for example frozen ice or melting wax.
  James, who completed a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art in London before moving to Cornwall, exhibited at the Milan Furniture Fair this year. Since September 2005, James has been based at Falmouth College of Art and Design as part of Next Move, a scheme run by the Arts Council and Crafts Council to help designer-makers to set up their businesses by providing workspace, equipment, grants, training and promotion opportunities. James received a grant for £1,300 to enable him to take part in Origin.
  
  
• Tim Gee (www.timgeeceramics.co.uk) Stand A6, Week 1
  Tim Gee, 48, makes elegant translucent vessels, bowls and vases from porcelain. Born and bred in Plymouth, his designs are inspired by local nature and other natural images such as water, trees and mountains.
  Tim had been a chef for 20 years when an illness forced him to change careers. In 2000 he chose to return to education and study for a degree in Applied Arts at Plymouth College of Art and Design. Tim is a member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, the Craft Potters Association and the Society of Designer Craftsmen. His work has been featured in several ceramic and porcelain books.
  
  
• Carole Waller (www.carolewaller.co.uk) Stand B1 Week 2
  Carole Waller is a textiles artist and fashion designer based in Bath. A major Arts Council England award enabled Carole to develop a new series of work in which her paintings on fragile etched cloth are laminated between sheets of glass. Her work has been exhibited at Westonbirt Arboretum, the V&A and in a garden designed by Sue Adcock for Chelsea Flower Show 2005. The garden won a silver gilt medal at Chelsea and a gold medal at the BBC NEC show.

Nick Capaldi, Arts Council England, South West Executive Director, said: "These talented designer- makers are outstanding examples of the vibrancy of the creative industries in the south-west region. Origin will provide and excellent showcase for south west design talent to reach a national audience of key influencers and industry experts. I wish them every success".

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For further press information about any of the designer makers and images of her work please contact:

Kallaway PR
Anna Cusden 020 7221 7883 anna.cusden@kallaway.co.uk
Jessica Blomfield 020 7221 7883jessica.blomfield@kallaway.co.uk

For further information on Origin please contact:
Louise Kelly 020 7806 2580 media@craftscouncil.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Arts Council England

• Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from Government and the National Lottery. www.artscouncil.org.uk
  
  
• The Crafts Council receives annual Arts Council funding. This year, their award is over £3 million to support core costs and other activities including education, exhibitions and market development.
  
  
• Next Move is an innovative setting up scheme run by the Arts Council and Crafts Council, designed to put new designer-makers on the fast track. It provides workspace, access to equipment, grants, training and promotion opportunities in the supportive environment of a college host over a two year period.

About Origin, The London Craft Fair

• The 300 exhibitors in Origin were selected from over 900 applicants by a specialist panel of judges. 27 makers were selected from the south west region and two south west makers will be represented in Springboard, a new exhibition for emerging craft talent at Origin where 24 of the most exciting emerging makers will show and sell their work to the public for the first time.
  
  
• Origin replaces Chelsea Crafts Fair, which was held at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London for 26 years.
  
  
• Origin will showcase over 30% more exhibitors than Chelsea Crafts Fair and will be at Somerset House, Strand, London over two weeks: 3 - 8 October 2006 and 10 - 15 October 2006 (closed Monday 9 October).
  
  
• Disciplines represented in Origin include glass, ceramics, jewellery, metal, furniture, paper, basketry, wood and textiles. All disciplines are represented over the two weeks.
  

Complete List of Designer-Makers from the South West exhibiting at Origin

Designer-Makers from the South West at Springboard:

ORIGIN VISITOR INFORMATION

Dates
Week One: 3 to 8 October 2006
Week Two: 10 to 15 October 2006
Closed Monday 9 October

Venue
Somerset House, Strand, London

Opening Times
Tuesday to Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6pm
Late-night Thursday open until 9pm

Tickets
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster from 1 July
Book online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0870 160 2853

Ticket Prices
Single ticket £8 (£6 concessions)
One visit in each week £12 (£10 concessions)
Season pass (unlimited entry) £15

Further Information
www.craftscouncil.org.uk/origin
020 7806 2512

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