DISCOVER beautiful and special gifts at the historic Ilkley Manor House

Following the success of last year’s Christmas Fair set in the festive surroundings of Ilkley’s historic Manor House, this year’s event again brings together leading local artists and makers from the world of jewellery, textiles, ceramics, glass, sculpture and more.

With so much choice on the high street it’s surprising that so many of us still struggle to find that perfect present, but visitors can discover something beautiful, individual and hand-made which is sure to give pleasure.

From gorgeous jewellery and ceramics to the loveliest glass ware, textiles, hand turned wood, metal work sculptures and of course paintings, prints and Christmas cards, there will be something to tempt everyone.

Work for sale ranges from intricate and colourful embroidery by Aneeta Seshan and beautiful textile scarves and jewellery by Vanessa Plews, to enchanting metal sculptures of fungi and flowers by Stanger Moore, turned and carved wood by Hugh Leishman and Nick Pike, stunning jewellery by Flick and Libby Jubb and eye-catching coloured glass by Chris Bailey.

Visitors who love ceramics can find decorative pots, plates and sculptures by Emmeline Butler, Howard Gardiner and Jacki Knight, and mixed media artists include Tara Binn’s who makes charming plaster casts of flowers and foliage; Carolyn Hird-Rogers well-known for her contemporary limited-edition greetings’ cards stationery and prints; illustrator Rebecca Carr and Sun Street studio’s Joe McDermott and Gary Winter. Pippa Hamilton’s textured pictures focus on the natural and constructed landscape, whilst Susannah Lawless paints atmospheric sea and landscapes. Other celebrated painters and print makers include: Hattie Clark, Carol Gardiner, Joy Godfrey, Kathy Hammond, Caroline Hudson, Rachel Savage, Mike Smith, and Lucia Smith who is famous for her soft pastels of the Dales.

Shaun Vickers specialises in animal drawings and Gillian Gilroy embraces continuous line drawings of various subjects from houses to landscapes. Architect Patrick Smith is also making a name for himself as Wordsmith Art company – creating portraits out of written text using calligraphy nibs and ink. The Fair will also feature f.o.a.k, ‘few of a kind’ collections from far-away places, hand-picked by Aileen Brindle from craft communities around the world.

For the first time, acclaimed sculptor Juliet Gutch, who with her husband Jamie, has made large scale mobiles for public spaces including hospitals, and for department store John Lewis, has created two mobile design kits for the Ilkley Arts Christmas Fair.

Both kits use everyday objects such as paper-clips, matchsticks, and small paper lanterns which are transformed into stylish, suspended artwork. The idea behind both kits is that the person who buys one or who receives one, can finish it to their own individual design. These durable artworks can then be hung in the home to enjoy.

The Ilkley Arts Christmas and Gift Fair takes place at the Manor House, Ilkley, on Friday, November 30 (late night shopping 6pm to 8pm); Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2 (10am to 5pm). Admission £1., under 16s free.