Categories
art & craft exhibitions dm21 exhibition public art exhibition

Expo ’26 – summer open exhibition | 6th – 29th August 2026

Our summer open exhibition returns for it’s 6th consecutive year. Work by almost 60 East Anglian artists comes together to create a remarkable exhibition highlighting a cross section of diverse talents in our community.

We will be holding a celebration of this years ‘Summer Expo’ on Saturday 8th August, between 12-2pm, with drinks and nibbles, where you will be able to meet and chat with many of the artists.

Open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays 10am-5pm.

Location: dm21Gallery and the Elephant Room, ground floor, designermakers21

Categories
art & craft exhibitions public art exhibition

Call for Submissions – Summer Expo ’26

designermakers21 will be hosting our sixth Summer Open Exhibition from August 6th to 29th. This year, the exhibition will occupy two spaces on the ground floor; we are delighted that this will ensure the exhibition is accessible to all.

Submissions are invited from artists and makers 18+, professional or amateur, in any medium. This will be a friendly, fun and inclusive event celebrating local talent, so why not come and make an exhibition of yourself!

For Entry Requirements and how to submit an artwork, please click here or read below.

Entry Requirements
  • 1 submission per entrant.
  • First come, first served, until we are full
  • There is a fee of £5 per entrant, payable upon delivery of artworks. This goes directly to support our charity designermakersCIO
  • Work is submitted at the artist’s own risk
  • Work must be delivered to designermakers21 on the 30th, 31st July or 1st August, and collected after the exhibition on the 29th August from 4pm, and before the 5th September
  • All items must be clearly marked with the artist’s name.
  • A note must be included with your name, title or description of your work, price of work, and your contact details so that your piece can be identified when you want it back!
  • Payment for sales will be by bank transfer, less 20% commission (plus 2% for card sales)
  • Placement of work in the exhibition is at the curators’ discretion
  • Work for the wall must come ready to hang with appropriate fixings, we advise d-rings and/or strong cord. We use a STAS system or nails to hang work.
  • We aim to be as inclusive as possible but retain the right to not exhibit an artwork that might be dangerous, offensive, or simply not fit through the door!
Submit your artwork

Please email the following details to joy@jhmosaics.co.uk and kateweltonceramics@gmail.com

  • Artist Name
  • Title or description of Artwork
  • Medium
  • Dimensions
  • Price or Not For Sale
  • Contact number and email
  • Image of artwork (if possible)

We look forward to hearing from you!

“Shelfanger Wood, Morning Light” by Becky Whatley, 2025 exhibitor
Categories
art & craft exhibitions Student Exhibition

Student Exhibition | 4th – 13th June 2026

We have a wonderful exhibition coming up in June, showcasing the work of four students, made during workshops here at designermakers21.

Come along to see their work on display from 4th – 13th June, open every Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm. Join the artists to celebrate the exhibition on Saturday 6th June 2-5pm.

The show will feature work made using a variety of materials and techniques including wax, metal, wood and painting. designermakers21 and designermakersCIO are excited to be hosting this exhibition by four talented young artists. 

Opening times: 10am-5pmThursdays to SaturdaysSpecial exhibition opening Saturday 6th June 2pm, all welcome.

Location: dm21Gallery, ground floor at designermakers21

Categories
showcase

Showcase Exhibition | May – July 2026

We are delighted to welcome three local artists in the Showcase for May, June & July.

You can visit the Showcase any Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm upstairs in the main building at designermakers21. All works on display are for sale.

Displaying their work are Rob Rutterford, Emma Verity and Kirstie Steadman.

Rob Rutterford

Rob creates attractive, humorous and delightful stoneware for house and garden. many works are fired using the Raku technique.

Emma Verity

Emma is displaying her art paintings and prints, alongside her exquisite crystal and copper necklaces, talisman objects, herbal mists and herbal rescue remedies.

Kirstie Steadman

Kirstie is a talented bird and wildlife artist with a passion for the natural world. Her work is mostly oil on canvas, and she is displaying a range of originals and a selection of framed prints.

Opening times: 10am-5pm, Thursdays to Saturdays

Location: First floor Showcase Gallery at designermakers21

Categories
art & craft exhibitions painting

An exhibition of paintings by artist Andriy Nekrasov | 24th April – 21st May 2026

English-Ukrainian artist Andriy Nekrasov. Member of the Ipswich Art Society and the Ukrainian Union of Artists, Honored Artist of Ukraine and Artist-in-Residence at Fuller’s Mill Garden. 

I’ve been painting for 50 years. My sketchbook and canvases are always in my car. I live in Suffolk and have noticed that the rural landscapes are very similar to those in Ukraine!
The same endless wheat fields, forests, rivers, thatched-roof houses, and a sea with sandy beaches and clay cliffs as in Odessa on the Black Sea. In England, the skies are calm, and I can create – it’s creative bliss!

During my three years in the UK, I created about 300 paintings and sketches and held eight solo exhibitions in London and Suffolk. I participated in 15 joint exhibitions of English and Ukrainian artists. 
The nature of the United Kingdom and its historic cities inspire me, and I work with paint every day. I love the English landscape, the majestic, historic architecture, cathedrals, beautiful bridges, seaside coastlines, and picturesque Suffolk!

My family and I are very grateful to the English people for their support, for the opportunity to escape the war, and for the opportunity to paint! I always say that colour is life!

Exhibitions in Suffolk:
Ipswich Art Society-
Ipswich, Woodbridge. Diss – Corn Hall.
Wingfield Barns. Dennington Hall. Fullers Mill Garden. Stradbroke. Debenham.
Botesdale. Bury St. Edmunds.

Opening times: 10am-5pmThursdays to Saturdays. Private View Saturday 25th April 2pm, all welcome.

Location: dm21Gallery, ground floor at designermakers21

Categories
art & craft exhibitions showcase

Showcase Exhibition | February -April 2026

We are delighted to welcome three local artists in the Showcase for February, March & April.

Displaying their work are Kim Croysdill, Cathie Fiddling and Helen Maxfield.

Kim Croysdill

Kim Croysdill makes beautiful calm ceramics, including vases and mugs, all finished with her own glazes. Kim also enjoys raku and pit firing creating simple, desirable pieces.

Cathie Fiddling

Cathie Fiddling creates effective mosaics from broken ceramics, often incorporating special pieces of interest and text to form her work.

Helen Maxfield

Helen Maxfield creates limited edition linocuts. Her inspiration comes from sketching trips in the Suffolk countryside and along the coastline. Designs start with observational sketchbook studies and evolve through the printmaking process back in the studio. In her work Helen aims to achieve images that celebrate both the beauty of the place and the natural qualities of linocut.

You can visit the Showcase any Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm upstairs in the main building at designermakers21. All works on display are for sale.

Opening times: 10am-5pm, Thursdays to Saturdays

Location: First floor Showcase Gallery at designermakers21

Categories
art & craft demonstrations art & craft exhibitions Events

Events Programme 2024

February

FREE ‘Have a Go’ afternoon, try out different Crafts with our members | 24.02.24 12pm-4pm

March/April

Print Exhibition | 21.03.24 – 20.04.24
‘Print in Action’ a day of demonstrations and workshops with our members and visiting artists | 13.04.24

May

Re-Use Exhibition | 02.05.24 – 25.05.24
‘On the Hoof’ Ceilidh at Roydon Village Hall, dm21 fundraising event | 03.05.24 (evening)
‘Have a Go’ day, try out different Crafts with our members | 04.05.24 11am-3pm
‘Re-Use in Action’ a day of demonstrations and workshops with our members | 11.05.24

June

Mosaic Workshop with member Joy Holden, dm21 fundraising event | 01.06.24
Diss High School Exhibition | 13.06.24 – 22.06.24

July

Design Nation East Anglia Exhibition | 04.07.24 – 27.07.24
Meet the Artists (Saturday), with process demonstrations | 20.07.24

August

Summer Expo ’24, Public Open Art Exhibition | 01.08.24 – 24.08.24
September/October
Artist Salon with Essex Cultural Diversity Project at designermakers21 | 07.09.24 11am-3.30pm
‘SILICA’ Exhibition at Diss Corn Hall | 14.09.24 – 19.10.24
‘SILICA In Action’, a day of demonstrations by our members and visiting artists | 28.09.24

November

SAORI Weaving Exhibition | 07.11.24 – 28.11.24
Christmas Craft Fair at designermakers21 | 30.11.24

December

‘Seeing Wonder’, an Exhibition by Anya Temple & Louise Thompson | 05.12.24-21.12.24