Country Sports and Country Life – Country Crafts

	click any image to enlarge
A visit to the Ards Peninsula is a memorable visit. Rugged shorelines, wildlife and ancient monuments are all attractions of the area. However what the visitor may not realise is that from Donaghadee to Portaferry and from Comber to Kircubbin, lies a carpet of thriving craft businesses. You can have the opportunity to visit a selection of these businesses in August of this year, during the Creative Peninsula, one of Ards Borough Council’s major events for 2002. However don’t despair, the wait needn’t be that long. Why not visit Ards Crafts in Newtownards. The Centre allows the indigenous population the opportunity to view and to purchase an original piece of craft from the area in which they live. No! Tourists will NOT be left out! They too can enjoy the beauty of the countryside and take a piece of local artwork home with them to remind them of their time in the Ards Peninsula.
Ards Crafts was opened in 1996 in Newtownards by Ards Borough Council to provide an outlet to support the business development of the local craft community. Sited inside the Tourist Information Centre in Newtownards, ‘Ards Crafts’ is a must for those seeking gifts or decorative items which reflect the rich diversity of traditional crafts created such as; pottery and tableware, jewellery, silk scarves, hand crafted mirrors, woodturned items, framed hand-painted silks and so much more. Amongst many, ranges of the following artists’ work are available at Ards Crafts. Mark Hanvey was born in Newtownards and his interest in wood was kindled whilst at Movilla High School. The hallmark of Mark’s woodturning is the quality of finish. His unique creations are the product of many hours working local timbers such as oak, ash, elm, sycamore, cherry and walnut. Consequently the range of work is extremely varied from bowls to mirrors. With the recent emphasis on natural interiors, he has provided both tourists visiting the area and the home market with unique hand crafted items for their home.
Just outside Donaghadee is the home of Glass Oasis, a glass studio owned by Harry Savage. Harry works with stained glass creating magnificent stained glass windows, panels and lighting to commission. His designs have been influenced for example by Edwardian and Victorian windows, the art of Tiffany, Celtic traditions, Rennie Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright. Moving along the coast we arrive at the workshop of Millhouse Pottery in Millisle. Ceramic Plaques, individually crafted and colourfully glazed at high temperatures typify the work of Peter and Pat Kennedy. The sea is a huge inspiration especially the rich coastal and marine life of this North Down village. Consequently Millhouse Pottery fish, starfish, whelk shells and seahorses have brightened many bathrooms. In the ethos of local crafts they have created small ceramic plaques featuring some of the local landmarks; Scrabo Tower, Donaghadee Lighthouse, Ballycopeland Windmill and the Portavogie Trawler.
Another craft business in Millisle is Eden Pottery, owned and run by Heather and Philip Walton. Here they produce some of the most exciting ranges of tableware on the market. White stoneware clay is hand thrown by Philip on the potter’s wheel and then individually decorated using a fine sponge. Each piece is then fired three times to give the unique clear stoneware, which is Eden Pottery’s trademark. Sally Huston, having studied sculpture in the Edinburgh College of Art is now working based in Greyabbey. Her designs are stunning, often inspired by Indian and African architecture. Her mosaic mirrors are of various shapes ranging from circular and fan shaped mirrors to square chequer boards. She has also gained numerous commissions for bathrooms, kitchens and conservatories.
Just outside Portaferry can be found Glenkeen Chairs and Woodturning. Mike Miall specialises in handcrafted chairs, which can be made to order as well as smaller pieces of turned wood. Nora Watson also from outside Portaferry, designs and produces her own range of jewellery in gold and silver. The designs of her exciting ranges are inspired by natural forms and often evolve from initial drawings of birds, plants or flowers. The resultant jewellery is both beautifully crafted and wonderfully fluid. Nora describes her jewellery as ‘fusion of older Celtic sources with more modern Art Nouveau influences’. And if you think you can escape the wealth of craft in Portaferry, you’re mistaken. Aromas of strawberries, hot apple pie, cinnamon and all things nice won’t lead you to a quaint little coffee and cake shop! but the workshop of Castlehill Candles in Castle Street. Here you can watch Connie and Pat Duggan creating their extensive range of scented candles.
Travelling to the west, Irene McBride founded her own glass studio ‘Discovery Glass’, in Comber, where beautiful and unusual glass is skillfully combined using the Tiffany copper-foil method. Inspiration coming from a range of sources such as the Arts & Crafts Movement, Art Deco, Art Noveau and Celtic Art is incorporated with Irene’s uniquely creative style. The wide and diverse range include mirrors, windows, lamps, suncatchers, stained glass effect greeting cards and items a range of jewellery from pendants to brooches, which given in the exclusive, lead-free Tiffany style jewellery boxes would make dazzling gifts. As Ards Crafts is continually seeking out new artists and unique crafts, the list is endless. So come and explore our treasure trove for yourselves. Ards Crafts promotes the Centre through open days and evenings throughout the year, inviting different crafts people to demonstrate and talk about their crafts to the general public.
And remember, the Creative Peninsula event will run from 12th to 16th August 2002. More details will be available later in the year by contacting Angela Haley, Events Officer, Ards Borough Council (028 9182 6846). For more information regarding the area and the crafts created call into Ards Crafts at 31 Regent Street, Newtownards. Or you can email at [email protected] or visit the web-site at www.ards-council.gov.uk