ZOO CERAMICS ANIMAL SCULPTURE AND GIFTWARE NEWS
FEBRUARY 2008   Arts and Crafts in Lincolnshire
HOME
ARTISTS
GALLERY

PRICES
ORDER


NEWS
EVENTS
CLASSES
EDUCATION

DEMO
HISTORY
TRADE
STOCKISTS
VISIT

A - Z
LINKS
SITE MAP
CONTACT


When Maggie and I first started our business nearly twenty years ago, a lady called Ann Woods invited us to exhibit at the Manor Stables Craft Centre in Fulbeck.  She was kind enough to take our work and display it on a permanent basis at the craft centre; our very first outlet.  When Ann retired in November 2000, the premises was taken on by two furniture designers, Gary and Jane Watmore of Cutting Lane Interiors.  Alongside their own work, they were keen to continue displaying local art work, including our range.
Manor Stables
 Manor Stables 1   Manor Stables 2   Manor Stables 3
Manor Stables Drawers   Manor Stables Sign   Manor Stables Lamp

Gary and Jane started their business in the early 1990's creating a range of furniture and accessories.  The pieces would then be decorated with paint and decoupage techniques.  When the Craft Centre became available, they decided to keep the name Manor Stables as it had established a good reputation over the last fifteen years.  They also wanted to continue promoting hand crafted work made by predominantly Lincolnshire artists and crafts people, but they also spend time sourcing new talent at shows like the British Craft Trade Fair.  
Visiting the centre is a very pleasant experience, for the simple benefits of free parking, a wonderful tea room (excellent latte) and a treasure trove of over forty bodies of work created by independent British designers.  Also on site are a number of crafts people creating their work and demonstrating techniques.  A workshop space is also available to hire out to other artists.
Manor Stables can be found in the pretty village of Fulbeck, between Grantham and Lincoln on the A607 and is open from Tuesday to Sunday (including Bank Holidays) from 10.30am to 4.30pm.  For more details go to:

Telephone:   01400 272779
Wild at Heart
Wild at Heart Garden 1
Wild at Heart Gallery
Wild at Heart Garden 2

At an "Art on the Map" meeting in 2005 I met a lady who was creating a gallery in the middle of her wildlife nature garden.  She particularly wanted to support local artists in her venture and was interested in housing our ceramics.  She told me her professional name was Anne Wood.  I smiled and told her that was quite ironic.  I then explained about the other Ann Woods who set up Manor Stables and had a similar approach and dedication to promoting local art and craft work. 
Anne started the Wild at Heart gallery in the summer of 2005 with a local core of fifteen artists. Now there are over fifty designers being displayed in four gallery rooms and throughout the five acres of delightful wildlife garden. Each month in the Garden Gallery there is a changing exhibition featuring the work of a solo artist or group.  Zoo Ceramics has been invited to exhibit in September.  Anne and her husband Stuart have created a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere to enjoy the art work in their home and garden.  
 

Blue on a Dark Day   Getting Closer   On the Edge of Winter
Art and nature also come together in Anne's personal work, when she creates her atmospheric paintings in oils and acrylic.  The designs are emotionally charged with colour and energy that almost dances across the canvas.
Wild at Heart provides a lovely afternoons escape and is open from 1pm to 5pm from Friday to Sunday and also Bank Holiday Mondays.  It can be found in the village of Broxholme just off the A57, just outside Lincoln.  An extra bonus is the free admission and parking, excellent freshly ground coffee and home-made cakes.
Telephone:   01522 702131
Harding House Gallery
Harding House Swaledale          Harding House Gallery
In the winter of 2007 Zoo Ceramics took part in two exhibitions in Harding House Gallery on Steep Hill in Lincoln.  Now we have been asked to house a collection of our work permanently at this space.   The gallery was created in 1994 is run by a co-operative of dedicated local artists who put together some wonderful displays of Lincolnshire's finest art and craft work.  The Upper Gallery features a constantly changing exhibition of contemporary designs, whilst the lower floor is a virtual emporium with of over fifty different bodies of work being featured.
Harding House Cats          Harding House Penguins
The gallery can be found half way up Steep Hill, in a sixteenth century timbered building near the Cathedral.  As the name of the hill suggests, it is a very steep indeed, but there are lots of cafes in the area to give you sustenance. The gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Telephone:   01522 523537
Omnipus
 Omnipus 1   Lea Goldberg at Omnipus   Cat Paintings by Lea Goldberg
One shop up from Harding House is a lovely studio run by the ceramic artist Lea Goldberg, who specialises in making cats.  Her ceramic art is bold and fun, whilst her paintings are bejewelled with patterns and colour.  Usually present is the enigmatic shop cat called Betty Chewdinal, standing tall and proud on the counter top.
Betty at Omnipus

By Tracy Wright 23rd February 2008