A Grand Day Out - The 2016 BCTF at Harrogate

Had a lovely day in Harrogate at the Yorkshire Showground visiting the amazing BCTF for 2016.  Never been before and received a personal invite so took the opportunity to see this trade fair.

 Obviously I am not a buyer for a shop or gallery, which I had to reiterate to the lovely ladies and gentlemen I met, who were keen to do business.  However they still had time for me and I learnt alot from them both creatively and from the business side of things.  The range of work on show was breathtaking, I can't say I would have purchased from everyone but the talent there was superb.

Jillian Riley Designs

There was so much to see, over 500 artists represented that it took all day to get around and see everything I wanted to see.  There was alot of jewellery, in a myriad of forms and plenty of potters. Not alot of textiles and only a little wood but lots of unique ideas that were just great to admire.  It was good that you couldn't buy retail because you couldn't spend but frustrating also.  However I took lots of cards for work I admired and will visit their websites when gift buying beckons.

If you get the chance to go next year, everyone is friendly and once they realise you aren't a buyer everyone relaxes.  If you have any interest in British craft you will thoroughly enjoy it.  Its a three day event and Monday was quiet, very pleasant pop up coffee shop and very easy parking.  Just to note for anyone in the south there will be the first London BCTF on 11th to 13th September in Brick Lane - if its as good as Yorkshire it will be well worth it.

Katie Hopkins-Searle