Buy art for Christmas: open studios, winter markets and festive exhibitions

Open Studios, Cockpit Arts, London
The social enterprise and business incubator for craftspeople opens the doors of its two centres in Holborn and Deptford this winter. Offering the chance to buy gifts and products from early-career makers and more established businesses, there is also a maker portrait exhibition and showcase by photographer Alun Callender, plus an alumni showcase during both open studios.
23-25 November (Holborn); 30 November – 2 December 2018 (Deptford). www.cockpitarts.com/shop-cockpit/open-studios

Open Studios, Fire Station Creatives, Dunfermline
Dunfermline-based studio group Fire Station Creatives opens its studios allowing visitors to experience ‘what goes on behind the scenes and maybe grab a great Christmas bargain’. There will also be live music from the Rosyth Orchestra Band and Baby Isaac on 25 November.
24-25 November www.firestationcreative.co.uk

Etsy Made Local, St Nicholas Mall, Aberdeen
Showcasing Aberdeen and the north-east based craft practitioners, this market aims to support emerging local enterprises. Run in partnership with Look Again, which is part of Gray’s School of Art at Robert Gordon University, and Bon Accord. Things kick off with a launch party on Thursday 29 November, featuring a late night shopping event, DJs, complementary mulled wine and mince pies.
29 November – 2 December 2018. www.craftscotland.org

Creative Christmas Market, Hotel Elephant, London
Southwark’s newest street dedicated to creative enterprises is showcasing a selection of original artworks, artist prints, illustrations, ceramics, jewellery, and sculptures. Highlights include t-shirts from Use & Enjoy, papercut illustrations from Klara Smith, contemporary jewellery from silversmith Esme Tanner and glittery ‘boobles’ and butts from Jesus and the Dinosaur.
30 November – 2 December 2018. www.hotelelephant.co.uk

Bath Humbug Art Market, 44AD Artspace, Bath
This art market at Bath-based gallery and studios 44AD is a showcase of affordable contemporary art and design-led crafts. It includes painting, hand-printed cards, artist books, hand-stitched leather goods with a monogramming service, printmaking, textiles, candles, ceramics and glass at a variety of prices.
Until 9 December 2018. www.44ad.net/open-studios-nov-18.html

The Maker’s Market, The Exchange, Newlyn Art Gallery, Penzance
This market showcases work by local and regional makers, including jewellery, ceramics, prints, textiles and more, and coincides with the Penzance Christmas Lights switch-on. Participants include: Jo’s Pots St Ives, Jack Mosevic, Emma Elizabeth Watson, Nicole Heidaripour, Katie Bunnell, Atlantic Press, Tallulah Pomeroy, Corinne Carr, Dana Kidson, Little Penn, Cornish Pots, Epping Smith, BureauxBlack Design, Pip’s Pinnies & Bags, and the Roaming Rug Company.
1 December 2018. www.newlynartgallery.co.uk

Open Studios, Second Floor Studios, London
Established in 1997, Second Floor Studios provides affordable studio space for visual and fine artists’ and craft and designer makers. Located at its Wembley Park site, its annual winter open studios features a variety of painting, ceramics, and fashion.
1-2 December 2018. www.twitter.com/2ndfloorstudios

Craft/Art works, Black Swan Arts, Frome
Black Swan Arts present a Christmas exhibition with a twist. Featuring makers and artists who live locally but have exhibited on a national and international level, ‘Craft/Art works’ will showcase printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, woodblock printing, textiles and jewellery. Artists include: Sonja Klingler, Sasha Wardell, Chris Pig, Hans Borgonjon, Gladys Paulus, Julia Manning, Carolyn Griffiths and Tina Seviour.
1-22 December 2018. www.blackswanarts.org.uk

Open Studios, Havelock Walk, London
This studio group is located in the centre of Forest Hill and is home to a community of artists, designers and musicians. Wander through the studios, chat with the artists and designers, take in a live music set and sample some street food.
1-2 December www.havelockwalk.com

Christmas Art and Makers Market, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley
This Christmas market will feature over 40 regional artists and makers who will be showcasing original work, including jewellery, fine art, ceramics, textile and paper-based products, and gifts such as glass makers, cards and prints. There will also be carol singing, mulled wine, cider, tea, coffee, homemade mince pies and Christmas cake.
1 December 2018. www.a-n.co.uk/events/sunny-bank-mills-christmas-art-and-makers-market-2

The Christmas Emporium, Creek Creative, Faversham
Featuring 28 studios and nine deskspaces, Creek Creative is the base for 45 local creative practitioners, including professional visual artists, silversmiths and designer-makers, writers and filmmakers, web and media designers, illustrators, musicians and theatre performers. This Christmas gift pop-up shop will offer individually handmade items, while the Gallery Kitchen Cafe will be serving a menu inspired by ‘all things Hygge and Christmas’.
4-21 December 2018. www.creek-creative.org

The London Group Annual Exhibition at Christmas, The Cello Factory, London
The London Group was originally set up in 1913 by a group of artists that included Walter Sickert, Jacob Epstein, Wyndham Lewis, David Bomberg, and Henri Gaudier Brzeska, with the aim of creating an artist-run group to act as a counter-balance to institutions such as the Royal Academy. It has exhibited at least once a year ever since, with this show being its ninth this year. 60 artists will be displaying work, with members also presenting talks on selected works on 14 December.
5-14 December 2018. www.a-n.co.uk/events/the-london-group-annual-exhibition-at-christmas

Xmas at the Mill, Islington Mill, Salford
Taking place across Islington Mill’s newly expanded site, this event will see artists, designers and makers selling a variety of original artworks, original prints, screenprinted clothing, bags, ceramics, jewellery and woodwork. The organisation has also partnered with GRUB to bring food and drink from local traders to the event.
6 December 2018. www.islingtonmill.com

Christmas Open Studios, Coldharbour Studios, London
Over 20 studio artists will be exhibiting their work, ranging from handbags, note cards and jewellery, to large canvas paintings and limited edition photographic prints, for a variety of prices. There will also be mince pies and mulled wine.
8-9 December 2018. www.coldharbourstudios.tumblr.com

DIY Art Market, Rich Mix, London
Featuring over 100 emerging practitioners, alongside several more established artists, this market takes place over four floors of Rich Mix London Arts Centre. Expect everything from ceramics, zines, independent publications and patches, to custom t-shirts, tote bags, art prints, risographs, screen prints, jewellery, and artist books.
8 December 2018. www.diyartmarket.com/events

A Festive Tune: Paragon’s Winter Fayre, CCA, Glasgow
It’s been a difficult year for Glasgow’s CCA, with the venue forced to close for an extended period following the Glasgow School of Art fire in June. However, now it’s time for some musical, festive fun, with Paragon’s Winter Fayre which features games, mulled wine, home baking and stalls to stock up on stocking-fillers and gifts.
9 December 2018. www.cca-glasgow.com

Images:
1. Etsy Made Local, St Nicholas Mall, Aberdeen
2. Open Studios, Cockpit Arts, London
3. Second Floor Studios, Rula ceramicists. Courtesy: Second Floor Studios
4. DIY Art Market, Rich Mix, London
5. Xmas at the Mill, Islington Mill
6. A Festive Tune: Paragon’s Winter Fayre, CCA, Glasgow

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