To greet the New Year, the Craft Shop will be showing the work of some makers from Suffolk.

Our first Spotlight On maker this year is jeweller, Ruth Wood. Ruth’s work is inspired by ancient artefacts and treasures, irregular form and the erosion and texture of materials, such as rock formations within caves. She loves spending her time in museums, looking at metalwork and ceramics from different ages, often trying to imagine who would have used or worn them. In her Cave collection she creates the same intrigue, making unique one-off pieces that look like they have been plucked from the ground.

Whilst Lucy Crick’s paintings usually portray contemporary subjects such as cakes, biscuits, teapots and milk bottles, they are very much influenced by the style of the Dutch and Flemish still life painting of the seventeenth century. Her paintings often incorporate common visual conventions and motifs originating from this era, such as dramatic shadows, the use of perspective, the crumpled white tablecloth and metal chargers.  As well as the traditional still life, Lucy is also interested in the subject matter of pop art, with it’s themes of fun and throwaway culture. She likes the idea of bringing these two art traditions together in her own work.

Pru Green is a ceramicist living and working in Wivenhoe. Pru makes vibrant domestic ceramics that are both jewel-like and completely functional. She uses a white earthenware body which she decorates, taking her inspiration from the colours, shapes and patterns in her garden and the seashore. Pru draws particular influence from the renowned British painter, Howard Hodgkin, when making her range, Howie.

George Bloyce, from Bury St Edmunds, uses a wide variety of woods to turn beautiful bowls, platters, boxes and other more individual pieces. He often combines different woods within the same piece choosing carefully the colours and grains which will compliment each other and enhance the shape of the piece. Where possible, he uses woods that are from local sources, some felled during the ‘Great Storm’ of October 1987. Each piece has it’s own inherent history.

As well as our Suffolk makers, we continue to stock work of the highest quality, design and craftsmanship from all over the country;  pay us a visit - you may be very surprised!

Own Art interest free loans are designed to make it easy and affordable for everyone to buy original, high quality contemporary art. You can borrow up to £2,000 or as little as £100 and pay back the loan in 10 monthly instalments – interest free*.

(*typical 0% apr)

jewellery Clara Breen Jessica Briggs Edward Broadway Rose Ellen Cobb Angela Fung Niki Guy Kate Hamilton-Hunter Sara Ireland Gail Klevan Kokkino B & J Mackinnon Grainne Morton Sally Pirkis Cathy Newell Price Hannah Souter Lesley Strickland Ruth Wood   ceramics Lisa Ellul Mary Goldberg Virgina Graham Pru Green Anna Hunt Sarah Malone Paddy Peters Janine Roper Craig Underhill Clementina van der Welt Kevin Warren

wood Phil Beckley George Bloyce   glass Chris Comins Bob Crooks Kathryn Pearce   prints & paintings Jenny Barrs Liz Clark Lucy Crick Clare Curtis Jason Lewis Esther MacGregor Chrissy Norman Jenny Portlock Alison Read Laurie Rudling textiles Alexander of Scotland June Croll Jenny Nutbeam Made @ NTU Sumptuosity