HANDMADE TALES
BUYING A UNIQUE PIECE OF ART for your home is no longer limited to an oil painting to hang above the fireplace. Research suggests that increasing numbers of us are seeking out one-off pieces in ceramics, textiles, wood, glass or metal. Craft sales were on the rise before the pandemic, and interest was fuelled during lockdown as many people took up a craft themselves and realised just how much skill and creativity was required to get it right. With the sector in the UK alone worth £3 billion, outmoded ideas about lopsided pots and drab basket-weaving are being left far behind.
In February, craft enthusiasts will converge on Somerset House in London for Collect 2022, a prestigious international fair organised by the UK’s Crafts Council. In its 18-year history, Collect has become a leading showcase for contemporary
