I so often here people saying ‘I really love it, but where will it go? Imagine where you can view your artwork – walls, shelving, bookcases, free standing cabinets, mantlepieces, door frames, ladders, dodo rails  or even leaning against aRead More

Every June and July Warwickshire Open Studios promotes local artists by putting together a feast of artistic delights as they throw open their studio doors to welcome visitors! This year there are 121 exhibition venues with single artist venues, groupRead More

I’ve just got back from a month travelling around Scotland staying in 5*hotels, Air B&Bs, B&Bs, friend’s spare rooms and my sister’s bathroom – another story there – visiting Michelin Starred restaurants, local fish bars, the Butty Bus in Leverbourgh,Read More

It is a joy look through the hundreds of photos and talking head videos captured by Charlie Budd’s team from Chin Badger Media http://chinbadgermedia.co.uk I will be adding them to my social media accounts throughout the following weeks – whatRead More

I am celebrating my 10th year as curator for #Cafdgg and I wanted to pull back to the basics of enjoying a successful arts event; be it selling your work, meeting other artists, or using the event as a promotionalRead More

Choosing which Arts Fair to exhibit at can be a headache.

After every arts event I do for #Cafdgg I ask the exhibitors for their review of the event, and to be as outspoken as they feel able. There is a measure of trust, as some artists may feel if theyRead More

So many of you have asked us to share our recipes for our delicious Bundt cakes we sell in the Golden Cup Cafe so here they are: Basic mixture 225g butter 450g sugar 4 eggs 350g plain flour 1/2 teaspoonRead More

Our fab artists from Warwickshire are exhibiting their work around the county, so why not pop along and support them? Here are the artists and their venues: Alix Almond Venues 15 and 80 Ann Donnelly Venue 108 Ben Cowan VenueRead More

I love pottering about, checking out beaches with rock pools, paddling and occasionally swimming in the sea, looking at the changing weather patterns and walking through glens and glades – basically I love being outside in nature, bathing in theRead More

Every year I get ridiculously  excited by our new artists exhibiting with us at #Cafdgg and the Panel aims to support a minimum of a third new artists, a third returning artists from previous years and a third from lastRead More

I was reading an article where the author described how he was completely overwhelmed as he stood in front of a painting in the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. He told of how he needed to sit, control his breathing andRead More

I read a lot about making your posts stand out on social media and here are 10 tips from Artsy that I thought you might be interred in: 1. ADD A PERSON Always include a person for scale (it helpsRead More

So when part of the ceiling fell down in my kitchen in late November I knew it was time to swing into action. The plumber and I discovered a slow leak from the shower from whence the floorboards had rotted,Read More

After the busy month of November where I curate and run our Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give, I need a month to reflect, clam down and review how the event went for me, the artists and the supporters. All our artists areRead More

Every year in the lead up to #Cafdgg I worry about how I can make it the best for our wonderful exhibitors and visitors, and this year was no exception. The visitors came in their droves, the artworks left theRead More

A few weeks and counting for our Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give – whop whop! Have a look at our exhibitors page to see who is coming this year as we have many new and as well as our returning artists. EveryRead More

This post is from Trend Build, however I thought it really useful as it is something I am working on to promote all the artists at #Cafdgg. You may have seen that many Instagram users display their stories in tidyRead More

What a sad time with the loss of Queen Elizabeth, the matriarch of the family. Such well rehearsed and dignified pomp and pageantry for the monarchy, yet so little about the woman. Family grief ripples through the ages and myRead More

Every year I do our Contemporary Arts Fair Dsicover:Gather:Give I get ridiculously excited about sharing with you our inspiring artists who will be exhibiting with us and this year is no exception. Over the next few weeks I will beRead More

Since my sister moved to the Outer Hebrides on the Isle of Harris I have visited her each year and cherish the time we have together in this beautifully dramatic island. The walks on the endless white sandy beaches whenRead More

Warwickshire Open Studios is a wonderful not-for-profit organisation run by artists for artist and I cannot think of a better place to pique your artistic desires…. Warwickshire Open Studios artists have welcomed visitors to their working studios from 2000 andRead More

2022 charity awareness days and events Stay up-to-date with charity awareness days and events with this list of awareness days and weeks for you to get involved with. June Pride Month 1-7 June –Volunteers’ Week 2022 5 June – WorldRead More

Well, its gone! Plans change, life upended and relishing the peace of enjoying art…

I have just finished sending all the photographs and links to the Panel who help me curate the artists who will be exhibiting at #Cafdgg for this November, and one or two artists whose work I know presented poor photographsRead More

Every year is full of important dates and 2022 is no different, so here’s a heads up for dates this year and see if you can use this calendar to promote your work on social media, lead up to eventsRead More

Application Form 2022 Nov Welcome to the application blog for November 18th to 20th 2022 Discover:Gather:Give Arts Fair! The applications for #Cafdgg are open for our November Arts event, and I have attached an application form for 2022 in thisRead More

After our contemporary arts event Discover Gather Give I put aside a few weeks for reflections, review and assessment, listening to the comments made by visitors, artists and volunteers and how I felt the event went. It was the firstRead More

November 5th for our very jolly Private View from 6pm to 8.30pm and November 6th and 7th Open to the Public from 10.30am each day, we close our doors at 5pm on Saturday 6th and 4pm on the 7th. IRead More

I hope you are all well and enjoying this lovely summer, whether at home or away.   As you know my lovely husband Alan died last year and due to Covid we had a very small funeral – just theRead More

Thank you to Charlie Budd chinbadgermedia and Venture House venturehouse  10 tips for videoing your work Published on 29th January 2021 in Venture House It’s time to up your video game.We all know that to market our businesses we need to stand out.Read More

With over 20 videos for you to join in with making art work there are a few things you need to hand to work with our artists, and here is the timetable and things you need: Prem Time Requirements forRead More

Make Merry in June #mminjune is a new online event where our wonderful exhibitors turn tutors and share with you their secrets of their trades, their passions and joy of what they do in creating inspiring art work. Over theRead More

The written word has such power in art, have a look at the work of Ben Cowan, commemorative folk artists Ruth Noon and glass decorated cards by Melissa Keskinilinc.

My thanks to Jackson’s art blog jacksonsart.com for this piece I wanted to share with you:- The Vegan Watercolourist By Sandrine Maugy For a lot of people, being a vegan is not only a way of eating, it is alsoRead More

Make Merry in June  #mminjune is our celebration of our wonderful artists who will share their skills and knowledge over the weekend of June 5th to 6th on our YouTube channel with premiered video sessions of demonstrations, workshops and evenRead More

A belated Happy New Year to you all, she said with a smile! As the New Year starts with COVID rife and worries of the NHS becoming overwhelmed I feel we all need a little certainty in our lives. SoRead More

Over the weekend of October 30th to November 1st when we would normally be doing our fab Arts Fair at Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall due to COVID-19 we went online by setting up a YouTube channel Discover Gather Give Arts FairRead More

COVID-19 has changed everything so far this year, along with extremes in our reactions to it – shield and stay completely at home withdrawing from society or go with fate in continuing as near normal; both are understandable and IRead More

Over the last few weeks I have been thinking about #Cafdgg 2020 in relation to COVID and how much enjoyment the Arts Fair gave to both the artists and our visitors, and I realised that I couldn’t just pass it offRead More

So I have never worked in a real cafe or bakery, I missed out on the whole waitress or kitchen staff thing as a student choosing to work in Austin Reed as a summer job meeting some characterful customers andRead More

After researching and accepting advice from Stratford Council it is with great sadness that I am cancelling the November Fair for 2020.   #Cafdgg is all about the intimate and cherished visitor and exhibitor experience, the jolly and busy PrivateRead More

A good photographic image offers the first impression of your art and your professionalism, a poor photo will endorse the preconception that your work is not professional and not worthy of being purchased – it is that important when youRead More

I am writing this blog mid May and we are still in lockdown with the corona virus, so what to do with your time?

What strange and uncharted times in which we live and die with the coronavirus pandemic stealthily reshaping the world around, how we will live our lives now and in the future. I am planning for November’s #Cafdgg after the JuneRead More

I love growing trees, I have tried so hard not to collect conkers, acorns, walnuts, apple pip’s to grow but I find them in my pockets and it always seems mean not to sow them, and if they grow intoRead More

No-one knows what is going to happen in their lives and when Alan’s health took a sudden and dramatic new direction I spent many a day wandering to and fro along the corridors of Walsgrave Hospital and I really appreciatedRead More

Why Write A Bio? An artist bio is often the first piece of information available to readers and collectors on the #Cafdgg website, and as such it offers you a chance to frame your practice and give collectors a reasonRead More

So excited to let you all know that our Guide Dog Puppy was born on November 24th 2019 and has been named Ariel. Ariel  is a black cross between a Labrador and Golden Retriever, his father is called Clover andRead More

#Cafdgg is a family affair; it was conceived with my sister saying ‘just do it’, put into practice with my husband’s advice ‘have you thought of this?’, supported by my sons and daughters-in-law with ‘how can we help?’, extended familyRead More

In the first few weeks after curating the glorious Contemporary Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give I am slowly settling down and giving myself time to reflect on the event; to me one of the most important undertakings to achieve. I read withRead More

Stratford’s popular and free to enter Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give returns to the historic Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall over the weekend of  2ndto 3rd November.   Alongside the 40 exceptional artists with an exciting and eclectic mix of paintings, illustrations, ceramics, jewellery,Read More

I have been reading round reviews of Art events over the last few months and a two issues seem to be continually referred to; firstly that numbers visiting arts events are down from last year and secondly that when visitorsRead More

I am having difficulties in believing that it is September already, really what happened to August? I visited Ardnamurchan, sojourned on the Isle of Harris, drank magnificent coffee at the Temple Cafe and became a Grandmother to the most beautifulRead More

I have never been to the Isle of Harris before and was blown away with the weather and my welcome!   I am used to the wild beauty, quiet mountains and contrasts of Ardnamurchan, but nothing prepared me for theRead More

In my research at Art Fairs, Festival, Craft events and Markets I am always looking to learn how they do things. I chat with as many artists as possible, organisers and volunteers and from each event I visit there isRead More

I am so pleased to tell you about Oversley Flowers, who will be doing floral decorations around the Town Hall. They grow seasonal scented fresh flowers lovingly grown in Oversley Green, sold and enjoyed locally – Alcester, Stratford upon Avon,Read More

The popular and free to enter family friendly Arts Festival continues to go from strength to strength when it takes place from 1 – 2 June at the historic Stratford Town Hall. This year the Festival has attracted 40 awardRead More

Very

I am often asked who exhibited at #Cafdgg as we change the composition of the event every time we open our doors, so here is the list of our past exhibitors for 2018. June and November #Cafdgg 2018 Contemporary ArtsRead More

The CONTEMPORARY ARTS FESTIVAL DISCOVER: GATHER: GIVE is an exciting, lively and eclectic gem of an arts festival and we have the best pop up cafe in town, honestly we really do! I thought about how to make #Cafdgg reallyRead More

#Cafdgg is a wonderful event that is curated twice a year, in the first weekend in June and November at Stratford-upon-Avon’s historic Town Hall. Applications are now open for both events and will close at the end of February. AllRead More

I was asked why I encourage artists to have cards made of their work, when surely an artist would prefer to sell an original painting or illustration? Artists who exhibit at #Cafdgg Contemporary Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give bring cards of theirRead More

Sometimes I need to think about the wider picture with #Cafdgg, I get so wrapped up with excitement of being able to exhibit the work of such a diverse and inspirational group of artists that I loose sight of whatRead More

I have been researching other Art Fairs, Shows and nearly every event that I have seen on Facebook and Instagram – it was a long job but worth it as it made me realise that #Cafdgg is rather special.  Read More

I went to a Michelin Starred restaurant last weekend and the whole experience was extraordinarily enjoyable. The food tasted incredible, by turns playful, exotic, rich, new to me taste pairings, tantalising and downright delicious – I just loved it! On reflectionRead More

The Contemporary Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give had another cracking event with hundreds of visitors over the weekend to see the eclectic mix of regional and local artists, enthralling both visitors and locals in the historic Town Hall, enjoying cakes by KneadRead More

I curate Contemporary Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give and I will admit to being biased – I am passionate about the Fair and think it is a fabulous event, with a seriously good selection of local, regional and national artists. The GoldenRead More

The closing date for applications for #Cafdgg June 2018 is coming up fast on April 2nd and I have been blown away by the quality, range and variety of craftspeople applying and further the number of applicants so far forRead More

I am a mother of two sons, and like many mothers kept all of their early paintings, drawings, hand drawn family birthday cards and notes.   For me they are priceless and in moments of reflection I take out theirRead More

It is the time of year for reflection, contemplation and acknowledgement of where I am now with #Cafdgg and from where I started.   The Contemporary Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give (#Cafdgg) is now firmly established in the Arts Calendar after fourRead More

So where do I start with my thanks?   I want to say thank you to everyone one of our exhibitors, visitors, helpers, supporters, cake makers, gin distillers, coffee roasters, newspaper journalists and Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall for making Contemporary ArtsRead More

I went to a forty year reunion of my jewellery colleagues last weekend and it brought into sharp focus how our lives had diverged from the path we expected to take as fearless frothy youngsters.   We had plans toRead More

Well it has happened, my son and daughter-in-law’s Wedding took place this month and it was fabulous!   The weather was kind to us with only a sprinkle of rain as we ate our Wedding Breakfast and the rest ofRead More

I need your help please. I have read umpteen articles on Eventbrite, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google on getting more likes for the Webpage for Contemporary Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give leaving me with a spinning head full of what feels likeRead More

There is an equation many women know, it is the Son+Wedding=Hat. One of my son’s is getting married in August and I realised that I needed a hat that fitted so well I wouldn’t know I’m wearing it, that wouldRead More

My mother suffers from dementia and as I have been recovering from ill health – nothing serious – these last ten days my mind has gone to my maternally inspired childhood and celebrating the vibrant woman she once was. HerRead More

Yesterday I returned from Northern Cyprus distilling orange blossom, and the same day travelled up to the Ardnamurchan Peninsular in the Scottish highlands and I was struck by the change in light.   In Cyprus the light was so brightRead More

I thought it would be a simple process to find beautiful backing boards for the painters and illustrators to hang their pictures on, however it took over a year to finally get what I held in my imagination.   IRead More

I was asked why I set up Discover:Gather:Give Contemporary Arts Fair and my answer is simple – art and good design makes the world a better place in which to live, although only if you have access to it. IRead More