Potfest in the Park 2010

We're just back from a fun-filled morning at Potfest. It is held at Hutton-in-the-Forest (pictured below). It costs £5 per adult to get in, and that includes parking and access to the gardens as well as to the 150 ceramics exhibitors.

The exhibitors have stands set up in marquees. The photo below shows one of our favourites: Charlotte and Sigerd Bohmer of Germany. We bought these lovely plates from them.

We were very taken with these adorable figures by Chiu-I Wu of Yorkshire.

This beautiful hare is by Nichola Theakston of Lincolnshire.

I bought these dramatic earrings from Steve Woodhead Studio Ceramics.

The event is well worth a visit. Lunches, teas, cakes, ice creams and other refreshments are served in the main house and in several other places,while a brass trio plays music in the background.

Each year a competition for the ceramicists is set. This year the theme was "Altars, Shrines and Markers". The exhibits are all set out on the lawn and visitors can vote on their top three favourites. Both Rob and I picked a beautiful and funny entry by Christine Hester Smith showing a queue of tiny penguins making offerings of fish to the God of Flight - a huge stylized eagle. Our photo sadly didn't do it justice, but click on the link to see examples of her work.

Finish up with a walk around the beautiful grounds and walled garden - the latter is full of flowers, fruit and bumble bees at this time of year. Highly recommended!

Potfest In The Park 2009

Rob and I went to this lovely ceramic market for 100+ artists from all over Europe. The market is held under marquees in the grounds of Hutton-in-the-Forest near Penrith.

There is an annual competition for the ceramic artists. This year's was called 'Building Bridges'. This was one of my favourites with little ships mounted on pieces of driftwood. Here you can see a naughty visitor about to grasp hold of the exhibit.

We had a lunch of brie and onion chutney in ciabatta, followed by ice cream for me, and oat and pumpkin seed biscuits for Rob.

There was a three piece brass ensemble playing throughout the day to add to the festive atmosphere. Here I am smirking unnecessarily at one of the exhibits. As well as looking at the ceramics, you can wander round the walled gardens and grounds of the house, which were very beautiful and buzzing with insects at this time of year.



This was one of my favourite exhibitors. The dogs were caricatures, but very well observed, and reminded us a lot of our dear departed Tess, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Find out more about Potfest here.