SURREY DAY

It is Surrey Day on Saturday 13th May, 2023 - The idea of this annual event is to celebrate the wonders of this special corner of England. Here at the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen we asked our members to make something inspired by the county of Surrey, where they live and work and are exhibiting their stunning creations here for you to see.

Please click on the maker's names if you wish to find out more about them and their work.

Priced items are available to buy in our online shop.

Linda Connelly

In and Out the Dusky Bluebells Enamel Necklace £2515

Every morning I walk my dog in Kingswood, Sanderstead, Surrey, an area of ancient woodland. In Spring it becomes a sea of vibrant violet blue as the English bluebells come into flower. The scent and colour, especially in late afternoon is indescribable and at its most intense and provides a striking contrast against the silver birch trees.

This enamel necklace comprises a central pendant with enamel beads and freshwater pearls. The cloisonne enamel has fine gold and silver wires over hand engraved silver. It depicts bluebells in with silver birch trunks in the background. The central pendant features an Iolite set in 18ct gold. The reverse has pierced details of bluebells and silver birch leaves.

Botanical Gardens Necklace - Wisley II £503

This necklace has a cloisonné enamel design of leaves inspired by visits to RHS Wisley, Surrey during their Festival of Light where coloured lights shine amongst the plants on the glasshouse. It is a magical experience and one I wanted to capture with this necklace. The chain measures 50 cm and the pendant measures 61x41 mm. The piece carries the hallmark of the London Assay Office. This is an unique and special piece with a beautiful feel to the touch. 

Dani Crompton Designs

Autumn Log Ring £210 and Copper Pipe Ring £190

As a dog owner and equestrian, I have the pleasure of enjoying the Surrey countryside nearly every day. Autumn is my favourite time of year and I enjoy roaming the bridle paths, taking in the beauty of the woodlands. I am often found crouched down taking photos of the stunning fungi that thrive on the fallen logs which I then use to inspire my jewellery designs.

In both my Autumn Log and Copper Pipe rings, I have heavily textured the metal work to represent the natural wood of fallen logs and filled them with handstitched beadwork giving the colours of the vivid life that can be found growing out of the crevasses.

All of my jewellery pieces are one off designs created using my unique method of combining metals and beadwork which I have developed over the years.

Martine Nash

Surrey Hills Sunset Necklace £195

Inspired by my walks at West Humble and Ranmore in the Surrey Hills, all handmade in Sterling silver with a 6mm faceted citrine ‘sunset’ set in 9ct yellow gold.

Carolyn Wallis

Autumn Glory Scarf £190

The design and colours of this silk scarf were inspired by the Autumn tree colours beside the A3 and Hogs Back near Guildford in 2022.

Blue Bells Scarf £190

The Designs and colours of this silk scarf were inspired by the Bluebells in the woods near Elstead in 2022.

Frank Higgins

Cassini and Quasar Kaleidoscopes

I have always had an interest in Astronomy and Space Science in general.  I have been lucky enough to have made two visits to the Surrey Space Centre (SSC) at the University of Surrey.  SSC is a world leading Centre of Excellence in Space Engineering for small, cost effective space missions.  SSC develops new innovative technologies which are exploited by the space industry. 

These two rather exotic Kaleidoscopes are part of a range on the theme of Astronomy.  "Cassini" celebrates the 17 year mission of the Cassini space probe to the planet Saturn and its' moons, while "Quasar" presents an image inspired by one of the brightest objects in the universe, powered by a supermasive black Hole and emitting a jet of high-energy radiation.

Caroline Ingram

Enamelled Copper Tulip Vessel

We are so lucky in Surrey to be able to enjoy the beautiful Spring flowers and this piece was inspired by the tulips we have all in April/May.  

Myra McDonnell

Verbena Tin Glazed Platter and Square Verbena Plate £95

Driving regularly through the village of Tilford I have been struck by a walled flower bed that faces the road. The mixture of shrubs and flowers is stunning over the year. In the summer a line of waving verbena with their blue/purple clusters of flowers are outlined against the wall. A joy to see.

Martin Tyler

Jug and Mug

You may not know it, but Surrey has a long history of pottery-making. More “Surrey white ware” was used in London during the late medieval period than any other type of pottery. Kilns in places including Cheam and Farnham produced cooking pots, bowls and robust, generously-proportioned jugs. My ceramics have been inspired by Surrey pottery since the time I was lucky enough to help to excavate a kiln site in Kingston while I was a student. I was able to admire at close quarters the potters’ confident and skillful handling of clay and enjoy the often playful decoration on the more elaborate pots. I aim to include some of the wonderful qualities of medieval Surrey pottery in my own work.

Lidded Bird Pot and Jug

One of the joys of living in Surrey is that you are always within easy reach of the natural world. Walking through the Surrey countryside surrounded by the sight and sounds of birds is one of the most uplifting experiences I know and I have been moved to incorporate the shapes and forms of birds in my ceramics. I hope that using the pottery brings with it reminders of the magic of birds and their flight and songs.

Rabbit Jug

The Surrey countryside is full of life-enhancing experiences of the natural world and I have been inspired to include some of them in my ceramics. I hope that the “rabbits” decoration on this jug gives its user an echo of the excitement we get from watching the animals who make their homes around ours.

Linda Scott

Bird Life - All of a Flutter in Surrey

Family and friends in other parts of England do not get a wide variety of birds in their gardens. That, for me, differentiates Surrey and its borders. With a richness of many habitats – from the famous Surrey Hills and chalk downlands to the mixed woodlands, hedgerows, heathland, ponds and water meadows - which creates biodiversity for us to listen to birdsong and see them in an ordinary Surrey back garden!

As a tribute to the fluttering constantly going on in my garden, I have made a series of bird glass works. All of a Flutter in Surrey includes Birds in Flight and Choral Crackle.

Birds in Flight

Each bird has been hand cut from special ceramic paper which can be fired in a kiln at a top temperature of 800 C.

Choral Crackle

The silhouette of the birds has been made with a glass crackle effect technique. The wren is the conductor with a worm in its beak acting as a baton and sings with a “tick tick” tune. Each of the other birds has its song described, so there is a chorus orchestrating a “twitter” with a “churr” or a “chirrup” syncopated with a “zee zee” which, all together, makes a Choral Crackle. The glass tiles move in an interactive way, within the integral wooden frame.

Iveta Goddard

House, Tree & Meadow £119

House, Tree, Bird & Dog £119

I love walking, cycling and running and the Surrey countryside is the perfect place for these activities. With fantastic views from the hills, the busy woods with singing birds, flying insects, wild animals, little streams and ponds. Not to forget the picturesque villages which inspired me to make these two clocks.

The clocks are fitted with a high quality quartz clock movement and use a standard AA battery, easily accessible at the back of the clocks. The pendulum fixes to the bottom of the mechanism. Both clocks are handmade from off white earthenware clay.

Sarah McAlister

Race Day Hats

Racecourses are a very popular choice in providing a unique and exciting meeting place.  For those very special Surrey occasions at Epsom, Kempton, Lingfield or Sandown race courses, it is an opportunity for ladies to dress up and wear their finery.  That brings to mind royal occasions in nearby Ascot and Royal Windsor, in Berkshire.  I am a local milliner making posh hats for these occasions taking place in Surrey and nearby Surrey Borders.