1. The Country Living Magazine Spring Show

The Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1

www.countrylivingfair.com

Timeless and elegant decorating is celebrated at the Country Living Magazine Spring Fair where you’ll find all you need, and more, to furnish your home in authentic country style. Everything from traditional furniture to the best new country designs, plus hand-crafted wood, antique glass and enamelware, contemporary ceramics, quilts and linens are on show – it’s every countryphile’s dream. The magazine also plays host to two other annual events – a Christmas fair, again at the Islington venue, and a fair, launched n 2004, at the SECC in Glasgow.

2. Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Countrywide

Tel: 01425 272711

3. Origin: The London Craft Fair

Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA

www.craftscouncil.org.uk/origin/index.htm

The Chelsea Crafts Fair has grown too big for its Chelsea Town Hall boots, but rather than banish this annual London institution, the Crafts Council has joined forces with the Somerset House Trust to organise this bigger and better, just-as-stylish, new event. It may not be in London’s most glamorous borough, but by moving to a specially commissioned pavilion built in the Somerset House courtyard, for a whole two weeks in October, 300 national and international designer-makers will have room to polish their wares for us to enjoy.

4. The Contemporary Crafts Fair

Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF

Tel: 01626 830 612

www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk

Another prestigious event and Crafts Council affair is held here each June. Over 160 exceptional crafts people and their work are represented – expect ceramics by Sasha Wardell, John Nuttgens and Virginia Graham, metal by Matthew Tomalin, silver by Brett Payne, jewellery by Abbot & Ellwood (right), Lesley Strickland, Tanja Ufer and Miranda Sharpe, textiles by Linda Miller, wood by Nick Barberton, glass by Potter Morgan, plus more. There’s probably a selection of West Country cream teas to boot, if shopping makes you peckish.

5. The Art, Craft and Design Show

The Millenium Grandstand, Newmarket, Suffolk

Tel: 01223 895895

www.artcraftdesignshow.co.uk

This annual November event comes just in time to help you generate some Christmas present ideas. It focuses on the more unusual, original and desirable traditionally-made craftwork from 150 of the country’s outstanding artists, craftsmen and designers – a class above lavender bags and embroidered hankies! You’re sure to pick up inspiring and unusual presents – you could even commission your own masterpiece.

6. Mid Wales Open Art Fair

Tregardon, Ceredigion, Wales

www.cambriaarts.org.uk

Llanddewi Brefi isn’t only the fictional home of Daffyd Thomas, the BBC’s outlandish Little Britain character. This Welsh parish really is on the map, and it’s where you’ll also find the tiny market town of Tregardon, nestled against the Cambrian Mountains and the annual host to this art fair. Not only is it the biggest event of its kind in the area, it’s also the most important event on the Celf Cambria Arts’ calendar. The emphasis of the event is placed specifically on celebrating Welsh artistic talent, where both amateur artists and the more professional share hanging space.

7. Weald of Kent Craft Show

Penshurst Place and Gardens, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8DG

Tel: 01425 277988

www.ichf.co.uk

Explore the beautiful gardens of Kent, England’s oldest family home and the work of 250 British artists, designers and craftsmen, all at the same time in this three-for-the-price-of-one day out. One of two ICHF outdoor events – the other is the Chiltern Craft Show at Henley-on-Thames’ Stonor Park – food is much in evidence, so if you’ve a penchant for gourmet treats, pore over the mouthwatering choice of specialty food and drink – lots of fine country wines, cheeses, Mediterranean delicacies and exquisite handmade chocolates.

8. Fiveways Artist Group

Open Houses

Fiveways, Brighton

Tel: 01273 564934

www.fivewaysartists.com

If you appreciate art, and relish the opportunity to peek inside other people’s houses, this four-weekend open-house event is the ideal opportunity to satisfy your curiosity. Every May, over four weekends, 30 artists living in the Fiveways area of Brighton turn their homes into galleries to showcase their work as part of the Brighton Festival. There are no rules. Each display of artwork brims with character and individual style.

9. Crafts for Scotland

SECC, Glasgow October

Tel: 01425 277988

www.ichf.co.uk

Another giant ICHF event, this time in Scotland. Yes, it’s packed with the usual crafty offerings – bespoke clothing, jewellery, glass ornaments, ceramic sculptures to name a few – from over 150 individual designers, and you can buy everything you need to support any craft hobby. But the best part is the hands-on opportunities. Teams of expert demonstrators and exhibitors show you the ropes. There’s also an entire area devoted to cookery.

10. Spring Fling

Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Tel: 01387 262084

www.artandcraftsouthwestscotland.com/springfling

If the Highland Fling is just a little bit too energetic for you, try this long weekend (three days) next May, when over 93 artists and craftmakers from the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland celebrate their passions. The doors of 64 studios are thrown open, welcoming visitors to watch them work, and hopefully buy. Studios are clustered together in easily-navigable trails (complete with café, restaurant, hotel and pub recommendations), so you can enjoy a leisurely scenic drive, with regular refreshment stops.