Went to the Contemporary Craft & Design Fair in Henley today (these days, held in the Henley Showground nestled in glorious rolling countryside just outside the unspoilt village of Hambleden) – this is one of my two favourite craft shows of the year, the other being the one held at Stonor in August.
Highlights for me, this year were: marvellously detailed pencil drawings by Mark Langley, also by Mark Edward Coombe, stunning art-jewellery by Lila Stern-Shewry who creates abstract organic forms out of silver, gold and semi-precious stones (bought myself a gorgeous triple-coiled garnet ring and am in love with it!) and Steve Yeates whose papier 
mache sculptures are covered in text that informs the piece or, in the case of my favourite, a map of Wales that includes the hills whose contours are said to resemble a “sleeping giant” and which are mimicked by the curled up figure. I also particularly enjoyed his two fibreglass pieces, Dancing Flight, largely for the photographic opportunity their juxtaposition with a dramatic sky provided as it was made to appear that this pair were orchestrating and commanding the cloud formations. You can see what I mean in these shots that I took at the show. Completed by a glass of Pimms and plenty of sunshine, a good day out!
