When you gift a unique piece handcrafted in the Cotswolds, you’re giving twice – once for the lucky recipient, and again for the creative who poured their love and talents into making it… you’ll also feel the warm glow of knowing you’ve supported a local small business, so it’s win-win all round. Happy Christmas!
ALEXANDRA WOODS
Alexandra Woods has spent many years teaching in schools, colleges and university, and now delivers a series of her own courses and workshops, both in person in the Cotswolds and online. Book a workshop for the creative in your life, or buy one of her original paintings or fine art giclée prints. This 35cm x 35cm print on Hahnemuhle German Etch paper of ‘Barbara’ is £49 from alexandrawoods.com
AEROTIQUES
There’s always someone who’s incredibly difficult to buy for… but this could be the solution. Aerotique take sections of Boeing 747s from Cotswold Airport’s ‘airliner graveyard’ and upcycle them into desirable pieces, from window-pane clocks to polished engine fan blades and key rings made from offcuts of skin. Every piece is unique and has an aeronautical story to tell. aerotiques.co.uk
CARICE GREEN
Carice is a printmaker/designer who lives and works in a small Worcestershire village on the lower slopes of Bredon Hill, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Her local landscape is a constant source of subject matter and inspiration for her handprinted scarves and textiles throughout the everchanging seasons. cariceprints.co.uk
CATHERINE VAN GIAP
Catherine Van Giap is a professional mosaic artist living in Ross-on-Wye. She has been making mosaics for 20 years, and teaches from studio and gallery space, from where her work can be purchased. Email c.vangiap435@btinternet.com or see her work on Instagram: @catherinevangiap
CELLAR CERAMICS
Cellar Ceramics is the collaboration between Robert Rivett and Debbie Fieldhouse who, in their modest workshop nestled beneath the floorboards of a terraced house in Shipston-on-Stour, produce unique hand-thrown and decorated porcelain ceramics. Rob has been a professional potter at Whichford Pottery for over 16 years, while Debbie skilfully hand decorates each piece with coloured clay slips, using a combination of brushwork and sgraffito. Their pieces are inspired by countryside walks with their dogs in and around the Cotswolds. cellarceramics.co.uk
CLOELEA
Chloe Romanos is a French jeweller working from her home studio in a Cotswold village. She designs and creates rings, necklaces and earrings, playing with texture, adding gemstones and trying to convey emotions using traditional goldsmithing techniques. Being one of a kind, made by hand and with a story behind their conception, her creations are like little pieces of wearable art. cloeleajewellery.com
COTSWOLD KNIT
Anna Wheeler is curator of Cotswold Knit, a small accessory and knitwear brand based in Lower Brailes in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. She crafts arty knits in vibrant colours and patterns for outdoor people. cotswoldknit.co.uk
CRICKLADE GLASS
Christmas Robin candle curve (10cm high; 18cm wide). These are hand-painted fused glass made in Cricklade Glass studio and are priced at £25. The Christmas Open Studio is on Saturday, December 2, 10am-4pm, from crickladeglass.com
FRAN REILLY
Fran Reilly is a textile artist based in Cheltenham who, together with her sister textile historian Dr Mary Harlow, uses natural plant dyes to colour fabric and then utilises the traditional hand-stitch art of Japanese Shibori to create beautiful, unique, handcrafted Indigo-dyed 100% woollen scarves. Long scarves are £49.00, infinity scarves are £30. Large wraps are £60. The scarves are currently sold in Winchcombe at Swift Studio and at Miserden Garden near Stroud. franreillytextileartist.com
DAVID KING
David King runs two-day stone carving courses from his base at the Ticket Office Studio in South Cerney. Even if you’ve never picked up a chisel before, he says you’ll take away a work you’ll be proud of at the end of your course. You’ll enjoy good company, great food, and expert guidance from David whilst creating your own unique work of art. Everything you need is provided, including delicious home-made cake and lunch. Gift vouchers are available, and the course is £250. More details and 2024 course dates can be found at davidkingstonecarving.com/courses
ANGELA SUMMERFIELD
Dr Angela Summerfield is a fine art oil painter and printmaker, living in the rural North Gloucestershire village of Toddington. She relocated from London in 2014, to be inspired by both the beautiful and varied landscape here, and currently one of her works can be seen at the Royal West of England Academy 170th Exhibition, which runs until January 16, 2024. angelasummerfield.com
HAYLEY KRUGER
Hayley Kruger is a fine jeweller based at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester. She works with Fairmined and Fairtrade gold and, where possible, ethically sourced gemstones. Much of her work is bespoke, and she keeps a small collection of gold, silver and gem set pieces that are available via her online store and in her studio. hayleykruger.com
HIDE & HAMMER
Hide & Hammer is an independent Cotswolds-based brand designing innovative, durable, and functional bags and accessories. Made for makers by makers using only premium materials, each design is carefully thought out to seamlessly fit into our busy lives. In 2017, they created the #03 Roll Top Bag, which has become an iconic project bag and must-have for knitters all over the world. hideandhammer.co.uk
JANE FOOT
Jane Foot is a mixed media painter based in May Hill village, just to the west of the River Severn. Jane paints semi-abstract paintings using wax-based mediums and oils; she also runs encaustic painting workshops from her studio or in the local village hall. As well as original paintings and prints she has a range of gifts, including tins, key rings, coasters, notebooks, journals, and greetings cards. She also offers vouchers for the workshops, or for use against products or paintings. artbyjanefoot.com, or visit May Hill Hub’s small shop on Fridays, 2-4pm, mayhillhub.com
JOCO CANDLES
JoJo Candles is a small business based in Hanwell, Oxfordshire making pressed and dried flower candles. Prices start at £8 for a small 9cl pressed flower scented candle, through to the larger 30cl size at £17. They also make bespoke/personalised candles, offering engraving on the lids, working with wedding flowers, drying and pressing them to make them into a set of candles so you can enjoy their flowers for longer after your wedding day. jococandles.co.uk
KATIE SANDERSON
Katie Sanderson is a Forest of Dean-based enamel artist who produces work for several local galleries, as well as running workshops for New Brewery Arts in Cirencester. Her robins range from £28-£150, and hearts from £18-£45, though they can also be personalised. katiesanderson.co.uk
KINGSLEY LEATHER
Kingsley is a leather craftsman based in Cheltenham, who lovingly handcrafts his pieces using traditional techniques. He has been working on an exciting collaboration with award-winning artist John Legend to create unique quality leather designs, available exclusively on etsy.com. His most popular items for the Christmas period are his personalised leather cufflinks and bow ties. kingsleyleather.com
LINDSAY REID
Artist Lindsay Reid lives in Kempley, Gloucestershire, with her husband and two dogs. She paints countryside and street scenes in oils, with her favourite subject being British wildlife. Prints are available from various local Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire pubs, and original oil paintings are available either direct from Lindsay or through the Secret Gallery, Newent, Gloucestershire. lindsayreidart.co.uk
LAMPSHADE REBELLION
Emily Johnson runs her business Lampshade Rebellion alongside friends and fellow craftspeople at Victoria Works Studios in Chalford, near Stroud. She transforms old frames into flamboyant, maximal lampshades through the art of upcycling (prices range from £90-£250), and is currently making sets of mini-lampshade fairy lights for a distinctly Cotswold Christmas (£25 for a set of 10). lampshaderebellion.co.uk and victoriaworksstudios.co.uk
LIZ CORLEY
Artist Liz Corley is inspired by the Cotswold countryside. All her wood products are sustainable gifts, sourced locally wherever possible, and are hand painted on the edge of the Cotswolds. Price range £15-£45. lizcorleyart.co.uk
LOUISE HANCOX
Louise Hancox is a textile artist, based a few miles from Broadway in Worcestershire. She creates unique, botanically printed silk scarves, using fresh plant materials gathered from her garden as well as natural plant extracts responsibly sourced from the wild. In addition, she creates handmade felt textile art, inspired by nature and the countryside surrounding her home. Find her work at local craft fairs or online at thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/shop/louise-hancox-textile-artist
PORTAMUS
Nailsworth-based Ben Patton makes vintage inspired outdoor bags and accessories. His ‘Hero’ bag is ‘Rockness’, made using UK woven fabrics and Italian vegetable tanned leather, it is built around a frame system designed by Ben himself. The bag retails at £345. portamus.co.uk
RHIAN WYMAN DESIGN
A handwoven throw made by Rhian Wyman Design is a work of art. Each product is designed and handwoven in her studio in the Royal Forest of Dean, from the finest quality wool yarn from a mill in Yorkshire. She is a member of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen, and her work is available in their Cheltenham gallery. rhianwymandesign.co.uk
RHUBARBCUSTARDCO
RhubarbCustardCo is a small Cotswolds-based block-printing business run by husband-and-wife team, Mollie and Joe – and dogs, Rhubarb and Bramble! rhubarbcustardco.com
RIVER SWAN OF AVON
River Swan of Avon is a collection of premium illustrated greeting cards and wall art, taken from original drawings by Ilmington-based Naomi Hand-Smith. Naomi is an artisan maker with a distinctive style – drawing from her studio in the Cotswolds with what she describes as ‘a scratchy pen nib’ using Indian ink, finished with watercolour washes. Greeting cards are £3.95 each; A5 gift art cards £4; and large wall art designs start at £15. Purchases support regular donations made to the RSPB. All products are available on the River Swan of Avon online shop on Etsy, The Farm in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Market Hall Museum in Warwick. riverswanofavon.com
SARAH HUTCHINSON-JARMAN
Sarah Hutchinson-Jarman is a Cotswolds-based author, illustrator and crafter. While working on a wide range of creative projects, her biggest this year has been the launch of her first picture book, Frog Finds Home. The book is published by The Lela Initiative, is on sale for £12.99, and proceeds go to fund library projects across rural Uganda (thelelainitiative.org). She also makes Christmas wreaths, and hosts craft classes all over the Cotswolds. shjbooks.co.uk
SUE JONES
Sue Jones is a sculptor who works in many materials, including Cotswold stone recycled from properties in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. She is based in Oxfordshire and her work is at Brian Sinfield Gallery in Burford as well as galleries in London and Marlow. Work starts at £1,675 and progresses to £5k + for bronze work. suejonessculpture.com
TAMSIN STUART
Cheltenham-based artist Tamsin Stuart is completely self-taught, interpreting what she sees instinctively and has developed her own recognisable style. tamsinstuartart.co.uk
THE LITTLE FLAME
The Little Flame is based in Chipping Norton on the edge of the beautiful Cotswolds. Each luxury candle is lovingly hand poured using only soy wax, complete with essential oils and cotton wicks, making them natural and sustainable. Each 210g candle is £25 and comes in a glass container which is recyclable along with a beautiful bamboo lid. For every candle sold a tree is planted. thelittleflame.co.uk
