Ickworth Exhibition

The Hervey Legacy: Artistry, Influence, and Global Adventures

This year, we delve into the remarkable legacy of the Hervey family—an aristocratic lineage rooted in the Suffolk countryside yet reaching far beyond its borders. From their ancestral home at Ickworth to their storied travels across Europe and beyond, the Hervey family left an enduring mark not only on the places they visited but on the wider cultural landscape. This exhibition invites visitors to explore the global influence of the Herveys and to discover how their time abroad continues to shape the character and experience of the Ickworth Estate today.

We invite you to embark on your own Grand Tour through our latest exhibition, tracing the footsteps of this extraordinary family and discovering how their global encounters left a lasting impression on the Ickworth Estate. Their fascination with art, architecture, and culture shaped not only their collections but also inspired generations of makers, artists, and collectors alike.

A Stunning Collaboration at Ickworth House

Presented in partnership with the National Trust, our exhibition takes place at the magnificent Ickworth Estate—an architectural gem and a monument to the Hervey family’s vision of beauty and worldliness. With its neoclassical elegance and expansive parklands, this magnificent setting provides an ideal backdrop for celebrating the exceptional talents of today’s artisans. A selection of the artists joining us at Ickworth this year are shown below...

Sculpture

This year’s exhibition showcases the work of four exceptional sculptors, each offering a unique perspective on material, form, and narrative. Mary Anstee-Parry, a sculptor and letter carver and member of the Royal Society of Sculptors, creates works that fuse the wit and balance of medieval carving with the bold symbolism of West African tribal art. Nicci Dedman works exclusively with repurposed steel wire, crafting intricate, delicate sculptures inspired by local flora and fauna that balance fragility with structural strength. Joy Holden brings over two decades of expertise to her distinctive reverse mosaic technique, producing finely detailed glass and ceramic works with remarkably smooth finishes. Anne Schwegmann-Fielding transforms broken ceramics, jewellery, and found objects into vivid mosaic sculptures, weaving elements of British ceramic tradition into rich, contemporary narratives.

Textiles

The textile artists featured in this year’s exhibition draw from a rich variety of traditions and techniques, creating work that celebrates both heritage and contemporary design. Yvonne Brown crafts richly textured and embroidered pieces inspired by nature and medieval art, using hand-dyed fabrics, printmaking, and free machine embroidery. Liz Chester, a professional tapestry weaver since 2007, produces finely woven works rooted in traditional methods, exhibited and commissioned both nationally and internationally. Jean Fryer’s delicate panels reflect the Suffolk landscape through layers of fine silks and chiffons, machine stitching, and occasional digital print. Ruth Holt, a graduate of Central Saint Martin’s and the Royal College of Art, weaves intricate silk and wool textiles influenced by the colours and atmospheres of Suffolk and Orkney. Val Jarvis brings new life to discarded fabrics through the heritage craft of locker hooking, creating vibrant and sustainable rugs. Marie Mallen combines vintage textiles with precise tailoring to produce garments and accessories that honour traditional handcraft while embracing environmental responsibility. Chloe Scott hand-weaves colourful wool and cotton fabrics inspired by nature and architecture, transforming her bespoke cloth into contemporary homewares and artistic pieces. Danielle Wade hand-dyes natural and specialist fabrics, combining textile printing and embroidery to create richly patterned homewares such as cushions, aprons, and bags.

Leatherwork

Leatherwork is represented by three makers dedicated to traditional craftsmanship and enduring design. Mark Papworth is a master of English leatherworking, drawing on historical techniques and tools to create timeless, functional pieces defined by clean lines and meticulous hand-stitching. His work prioritises durability and utility, with each item crafted to last for generations. Raeleen Gladwell combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, using high-quality British materials to create functional, heirloom-quality leather pieces, increasingly incorporating her own marbled leather into her evolving work. Sarah Woodcock shares a similar ethos, creating leather pieces that are both beautiful and practical. Using only the highest-quality natural materials and time-honoured methods, her work is designed to age gracefully and be cherished over time, becoming more meaningful with every use.

Ceramics

Our ceramicists present a vibrant and varied collection, ranging from sculptural vessels to finely crafted functional forms, all rooted in a deep engagement with material, landscape, and tradition. Sarah Cannell draws inspiration from the Waveney Valley, creating ceramics that echo the subtle colours and textures of the natural world. John Chipperfield, a founder member, showcases expressive vessels with dynamic glazes and bold surface design. Marie Coomber’s tactile stoneware combines raw clay textures with smooth glazes and polished bases, inviting touch. Cathy D’Arcy brings the vivid colours and patterns of her East African childhood into her work, blending a background in textiles with decades of ceramic practice. Moira Goodall hand-builds burnished vessels in marsh-inspired tones, often incorporating textures from found natural objects and finishing with sawdust firing. Shelia Madder creates elegant, slip-cast porcelain tableware, layering coloured clays and carving fingerprint-like marks to emphasise the maker’s touch. Simon Sharpe’s work is rich in symbolism and pattern, drawing eclectically from art history to explore both figurative and abstract forms. Usch Spettigue produces functional porcelain pieces enhanced with sgraffito and spray glazing techniques for layered texture. Pat Todd captures spontaneous moments in porcelain slip, crafting delicate bowls and framed panels that evoke the Suffolk coastline. Janene Waudby’s ceramics reflect her lifelong connection to the sea, blending global experience with the calm rhythms of the Suffolk landscape. Pam Schomberg draws inspiration from ancient artifacts, armour, and historical ceramics, creating predominantly non-functional sculptural pieces, as well as porcelain jewellery, clocks, jugs, plates, and decorative kitchen tiles.

Glass

This year’s exhibition presents a captivating selection of glass artists whose work spans flame-sculpting, kiln-formed vessels, and architectural installations. Verena Daniels uses fusing and slumping techniques to craft expressive glass pieces inspired by landscapes and natural forms, layering texture, light, copper wire, and coloured frit drawn from her own sketches. Clare Gaylard sculpts intricate forms using rods of Murano glass in an intense flame, creating unique sculptures, vessels, and wearable art. Every detail is formed in the flame, with inspiration drawn from people, stories, and artefacts to produce richly coloured, patterned pieces that celebrate the beauty of the small. Hassina Khan works with kiln-formed glass, using fusing and slumping techniques to craft vessels and objects that reflect her exploration of cultural identity. Her current work incorporates fragments of transliterated text—English words written in Urdu script—embedded in the glass to represent the layered experiences of her bi-racial English-Pakistani heritage. Arabella Marshall creates soulful glass artworks designed to elevate everyday spaces, with large-scale commissions including windows, panels, doors, and screens. She also produces smaller-scale works such as standalone panels, vessels, and striking pieces of jewellery, all reflecting her intuitive and expressive approach to glassmaking.

Furniture and Woodturning

We are showcasing a diverse group of furniture makers whose work spans traditional craftsmanship, contemporary innovation, and fine metalwork. David Bartram Furniture brings over a century of combined expertise in bespoke joinery, interior building, fine furniture making, and restoration, with a focus on quality materials and precision construction. Mark Dyvig, a blacksmith and art metalworker, creates functional pieces that explore texture and process, often incorporating glass, stone, and other materials through forging, machining, and custom-built tools. Tim Germain handcrafts one-off commissioned furniture, producing clean, strong forms that highlight the natural beauty of English hardwoods. Adrian Parfitt blends classic joinery techniques with wood lamination to sculpt forms beyond the possibilities of solid timber, embracing new creative directions in his semi-retirement. Toby Winteringham is known for his bold, dynamic designs in solid wood and veneers, frequently using trompe l’oeil marquetry to produce enduring statement pieces, as well as smaller decorative objects. Woodturner Nicholas Rowe enhances the meaning and longevity of his work by marking each piece with the name and origin of the wood, especially when using clients’ treasured materials, and continues to refine his acclaimed surface finishes to achieve ever greater aesthetic impact.

Jewellery

Our jewellers present a vibrant mix of traditional skill and contemporary creativity. Alison Dane creates colourful, lightweight paper jewellery inspired by photography and gardening, using printing techniques such as monoprinting and sponging to decorate each unique piece. Susi Hines explores movement and transformation in nature, smelting her own gold alloys to hand-build articulated forms that echo pattern and metamorphosis. Diane Levitt, a silversmith based in Constable Country, crafts one-of-a-kind pieces from recycled and ethically sourced materials. Helen Smith specialises in Mokume Gane, an ancient Japanese technique that produces flowing metal patterns; her elegant jewellery, often accented with gold and gemstones, combines heritage craftsmanship with a modern aesthetic.

Printmaking

This year’s printmakers bring a diverse and expressive range of techniques to the exhibition, each drawing deeply from personal inspiration and the Suffolk landscape. Marta Dyer-Smith discovered a passion for printmaking at Gainsborough’s House nearly a decade ago and has since developed experimental approaches to collagraphy, monoprint, dry point, and relief printing. Sally Freer captures the essence of Suffolk’s hedgerows, fields, and shoreline, exploring how shifts in colour and pattern can transform mood and energy within a print. Greta Hansen creates collagraphs and woodcut prints using the reduction method, often working from dark to light to achieve striking, unexpected colour effects inspired by rural Suffolk. Helen Maxfield produces limited edition linocuts from her studio near Needham Market, basing her designs on observational sketches from the local countryside and coast, and celebrating both the landscape and the bold, tactile quality of linocut printing.

Bookbinding

The bookbinding artists bring a refined blend of tradition and innovation to their craft. Paul Garcia creates meticulously hand-sewn leather-bound books, often adorned with gold leaf, intricate edge decoration, and handsewn silk endbands, drawing on classic binding techniques with a distinctive attention to detail. Noreen Grant combines traditional and Japanese bookbinding methods to produce artist books with inventive structures, hidden pages, and integrated printed imagery, transforming each piece into a tactile and visual narrative object.

Celebrating Craft During Heritage Week

Coinciding with the start of Heritage Week, this exhibition honours both tradition and innovation. It is a celebration of cultural heritage, artisanal skill, and the enduring power of handmade art. At its heart is a commitment to future heirlooms—contemporary creations forged with time-honoured methods, made to be treasured for generations.

Visitors will encounter an extraordinary range of work, from intricate textiles to sculptural ceramics, each piece reflecting the unique voice of its maker and the lineage of craftsmanship from which it springs.

Join us for this captivating exhibition and immerse yourself in the artistry, passion, and heritage that define the work of these contemporary makers. Whether you're drawn by history, design, or the spirit of craftsmanship, we welcome you to experience a showcase that bridges past and present with elegance and creativity.

Friday 22nd August - Sunday 14th September, 10am - 4:30pm.

Ickworth Estate, National Trust. Bury St. Edmunds IP29 5QE

Join Us

Excited by these opportunities and keen to join us? The Suffolk Craft Society thrives through the support of artists, makers, and heritage craft enthusiasts. Whether you are a skilled artisan looking to showcase your work or an admirer of fine craftsmanship, there are two fantastic ways to get involved, becoming a Member or joining as a Friend.

Membership: For Makers & Craft Professionals becoming a Suffolk Craft Society Member offers a wealth of opportunities:

Exhibit Your Work – Take part in our prestigious exhibitions held in iconic venues.

Promotion & Recognition – Gain exposure through our website, social media, and marketing.

Join a Respected Community – Be part of a network of skilled artisans who celebrate and support British craftsmanship.

Benefit from the Small Grants Scheme.

Friends of Suffolk Craft Society: For Supporters & Enthusiasts, join as a Friend and enjoy exclusive benefits:

Discounts – Enjoy special offers on handcrafted pieces.

Newsletters – Stay informed with the latest society updates, artist features, and upcoming events.

Private View Invitations – Be among the first to see our exhibitions and meet the makers behind the work.

Your support—whether as a Member or a Friend—helps us continue our mission to celebrate, promote, and preserve fine craftsmanship in the Eastern region. Join us today and become part of a vibrant creative community.