designermakers21The eighth SAORI weaving exhibition at designermakers21. In the downstairs galleries from 5th – 26th November.
This exhibition brings together weavers from around East Anglia showcasing hangings and wall pieces, clothing, accessories and more!
Open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays 10am-5pm.
Location: dm21Gallery and the Elephant Room, ground floor, designermakers21
Our Fixed Term Residents Andrew, Deborah and Deb are concluding their 3 month residency with an exhibition celebrating their work.
‘WASH PAINT PRINT’ opens on the 24th September and runs in the dm21Gallery on the ground floor at designermakers21, until 29th, open Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm.
You are warmly invited to their Private View opening late from 6-8pm on Friday 25th September.
All works exhibited are for sale and you can find more in their studios. You can also meet the artists Thursday to Friday in the Gallery and in their studios. They have one week left in their residency.
Andrew Lee
In the summer months Andrew has been working on a collection of ‘plein air’ oil paintings, featuring a variety of East Anglian locations including our very own Diss Mere. He has a wide range of his final
paintings available in his studio and the exhibition. Andrew uses a quite unusual method in his work, combining ‘plein-air’ painting with an inspiration from his love for vintage landscape photographs,
and a passion for colour.
Deb Cousins
Deb is currently working on painting negative spaces, on canvas. Starting with a surface layered with paint, stencils and collage paper, Deb adds layers of white and block colour to create an image using
the colours below – a kind of reverse painting! Come and discuss experimental and exciting processes with Deb and see her fabulous outcomes.
Deborah Sedgwick
Deborah has been continuing her explorations of the laundry prop, domesticity and current issues through her paintings and smaller works in glass and on paper. She is currently working on an
abstract painted design, alongside larger works on canvas. Deborah’s thought process and techniques are complex and multi-layered. Come along and discuss the stages and concepts behind her work at her studio and the during the exhibition. Deborah has also joined Andrew in a bit of ‘plein air’ painting at Diss Mere.
You can visit the residency studios upstairs in the back building during designermakers21 open hours Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm, chat with the artists, and see a range of work for sale. The space is looking really exciting, with some great experimentation and development of technique.
The 2026 Fixed Term Incubator Residency programme is supported with funding from East Anglia Art Fund (EAAF) and Diss Arts Society.
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
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.
Please email the following details to joy@jhmosaics.co.uk and kateweltonceramics@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you!
designermakers21 welcomes back Diss High School A-level art students, with another fantastic showcase of work.
Come and visit the exhibition from 26th June – 11th July, open Thursdays to Saturdays 10am-5pm.
Join the students to celebrate at the private view on Friday 26th June from 4-6pm, all welcome.
An exciting exhibition, showcasing the work of our second cohort of Incubator Fixed Term Residency Artists.
Come along to see their work on display from 18th – 20th June, open 10am-5pm. Join the artists to celebrate the exhibition on Friday 19th June 5:30-7:30pm,
The exhibition brings together the work of Norfolk and Suffolk artists Steph Baker, Harmony Shaw and Poppy Jackson. Through painting, mixed media and contemporary art practice, the exhibition explores landscape, body, memory, texture and personal narrative through three distinct creative voices.
Opening times: 10am-5pm, Thursdays to Saturdays. Preview evening Friday 19th June 5:30-7:30pm, all welcome.
Location: dm21Gallery, ground floor at designermakers21
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-5pm, Thursdays to Saturdays. Special exhibition opening Saturday 6th June 2pm, all welcome.
Location: dm21Gallery, ground floor at designermakers21
designermakers21 warmly invite you to CROSSHATCH, an exhibition celebrating the work of our first Incubator Studio Residency graduates. Hosted in our new dm21Gallery the exhibition open on Thursday 26th March, in the afternoon. We are extremely proud of the three talented artists. On Saturday March 28th at 2pm you can come and meet Poppy, Shelby and Sonia, enjoy a cup of tea to talk to them about their work, processes and ideas.
Shelby is an illustrator and ceramicist interested in diverting the mainstream and celebrating the unusual. Her work, featuring zines, ceramic pots and figurines are inspired by punk/alt music, retro objects, traditional tattoo art, folklore and the supernatural
Poppy Jackson makes work that explores the female body as an autonomous zone. Jackson’s practice spans live performance, painting, sculpture and printmaking, and often focuses on public space and architecture in relation to the body. Poppy is involved in developing CONVERGE: a performance art and Live Art platform providing connection and exchange between artists working with the body across Norfolk and Suffolk
Sonia Gomez’s Mixed Media Compositions are inspired by encounters with the natural world and the flora and fauna of her homes in Norfolk, Sri Lanka, and found on her travels. She uses colour, pattern and variety of materials to create gardens and seascapes, populated with surrealish birds and creatures, and playful details which reveal themselves upon closer viewing.
The Incubator Studio Residencies are sponsored and funded by the East Anglian Art Fund with additional funding by the Diss Arts Society
Opening times: 10am-5pm, Thursdays to Saturdays. PV Saturday 28th March 2pm, all welcome
Location: dm21Gallery, ground floor at designermakers21
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-5pm, Thursdays to Saturdays. Private View Saturday 25th April 2pm, all welcome.
Location: dm21Gallery, ground floor at designermakers21
‘Have a Go’ Craft Activities with our members Saturday 7th February 11am-3pm
Wire Workshop with Nicci Dedman, Saturday 7th March, 10am-4pm
Cross Hatch, Incubator Fixed Term Residency Exhibition, 26th March – 2nd April
Hand-building Pottery Workshop with Sharon Williams, Saturday 28th March, 10.30am-3pm
Cross Hatch, Incubator Fixed Term Residency Exhibition, until 2nd April
Mosaic Workshop with Joy Holden, Saturday 4th April, 10am-4pm
Wire Workshop with Nicci Dedman, Saturday 18th April, 10am-4pm
Exhibition of Paintings by artist Andriy Nekrasov, 24th April – 21st May
Exploring Drawing Workshop with Melodie Cook, Saturday 25th April, 10am-1pm
Cuttlebone Casting Workshop with Poppy Jackson, Thursday 30th April, 10:30am-2:30pm
Exhibition of Paintings by artist Andriy Nekrasov, until 21st May
Exploring Drawing Workshop with Melodie Cook, Saturday 9th May, 10am-1pm
Exploring Drawing Workshop with Melodie Cook, Saturday 6th June, 10am-1pm
Student Exhibition, 4th – 13th June
Cuttlebone Casting Workshop with Poppy Jackson, Saturday 13th April, 10:30am-2:30pm
Incubator Fixed Term Residency Exhibition, 18th – 20th June
Make your own Watercolours Workshop with Harmony Shaw, Friday 19th June, 11.30am-2pm
Hand-building Pottery Workshop with Sharon Williams, Saturday 20th June, 10.30am-3pm
Diss High School A-Level Art Exhibition 26th June – 11th July
Diss High School A-Level Art Exhibition until 11th July
Stained Glass Weekend Workshop with Steph Parmee, 18th-19th July, FULLY BOOKED
Clay Workshop for Raku Firing, Saturday 25th July
‘Secondhand September’ Mending Workshop, with Oxfam & dm21 Saturday 5th September
Anglian Potters Event, Friday 11th -Saturday 12th September
‘Creatives Connect’, Friday 18th September 10:30am – 12pm
FREE Heritage Open Days activities & workshops ‘Coins and Crosses: Seeking the Anglo-Saxons in Winfathing and Waveney’ project in collaboration with Winfathing Anglo Saxon Project Saturday 19th September
‘WASH, PAINT, PRINT’ Incubator Fixed Term Residency Exhibition 24th September – 26th September
Mosaic Workshop with Joy Holden, Saturday 3rd October
‘Have a Go’ Craft Activities with our members Saturday 17th October 11am-3pm
‘Creatives Connect’, Friday 23rd October 10:30am – 12pm
Stained Glass Weekend Workshop with Steph Parmee, 24th – 25th October
SAORI VIII- Weaving Exhibition 5th – 26th November
Hand-Building Pottery Workshop with Sharon Williams, Saturday 14th November
Incubator Fixed Term Residency Exhibition 17th – 19th December
‘Creatives Connect’, Friday 11th December 10:30am – 12pm
Stained Glass Festive Workshop with Steph Parmee, Saturday 12th December