Take one historic venue and a beautiful rural location, add a selection of the best designers and makers from across the North of England (and into Scotland) and allow them to work their creative magic for the month of August.
That’s the Craftsmen at the Priory exhibition and sale, which has taken place in the Dacre Hall alongside Lanercost Priory since 1978.
“As always, we’ve a core of familiar local craftspeople organising the event,” says Tricia Meynell of Castle Carrock, a fine art and abstract photographer and one of the organising team, “and they’ll be joined this year by six new invited guests and also three returning exhibitors who’ve not been involved for a few years.”
This year’s event will be taking over the Dacre Hall near Brampton from 10am to 5pm every day from Wednesday 2nd August through until Tuesday 29th August.
A group of craftspeople has been exhibiting in the Dacre Hall each summer for over 45 years and Tricia works with Denise Huddleston (textile artist and print maker), Carolyn Marr (ceramicist), Julia Neubauer (knitwear designer) and Richard and Mary Kennedy (furniture maker/woodcarver and artist respectively) to pull together each stunning exhibition.
“We’re all about celebrating the quality and variety of contemporary craft and creativity,” says Tricia, “and it’s good to welcome back David Stephenson (a blacksmith with his forge at Lockton in the North York Moors), Hilary Harrison (a ceramicist based in Burgh by Sands) and Cumbria-based artist, Rachel Gibson. The six new artists who make up the full complement of 15 exhibitors are Ashley Boon, Lily Greenwood, Duncan Stewart, Suzanne Tweddle, Sophie Wilson and David Wright. They each bring something different to this year’s exhibition, with cabinet-making, glass-making, glass jewellery and textiles as well as painting.”
To make the most of the space in the Dacre Hall at Lanercost, there will be a gallery of prints, original photographs and paintings, a large selling exhibition in the main Hall and a sales area for other locally-made crafts and goods. Many of those taking part also produce cards featuring their work so there will be plenty to see and buy for the admission charge of just £1.
For the latest information about Craftsmen at the Priory for 2023, see the website at www.cumbriacrafts.co.uk and Follow the group on Facebook (Craftsmen at the Priory) or on Instagram @Craftsmen at the Priory. And look out for the yellow AA signs directing visitors to the Dacre Hall throughout August.
Header Image: Hawthorns, an original painting by Carlisle-based artist, Lily Greenwood – new to Craftsmen at the Priory for 2023
