ONE of the country’s oldest craft guilds is celebrating its annual show in August by returning to the Cotswold town which played a significant part in its birth more than 80 years ago.

Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen is hosting its Summer Show in Chipping Campden town hall with an array of beautiful contemporary craftwork from 21 of its members.

The exhibition, which runs from Saturday, August 15 until Sunday, August 23, celebrates the high calibre of specialist skills in glass, pottery, jewellery, textiles, leather, bookbinding, calligraphy and furniture.

Daily demonstrations by the artists specialising in their chosen disciplines will take place and makers will be on hand to talk about their work.

A special display featuring stunning work from new graduates from Hereford College of Arts will also be on show.

Founded in 1933, the Guild developed out of the vibrant Arts and Crafts Movements in the Cotswolds at the turn of the 20th century.

Original members included Michael Cardew from Winchcombe Pottery and George Hart from Harts Silversmiths based in Chipping Campden.

To mark its 80th year, the Guild moved into a new permanent home next to The Wilson, Cheltenham’s Art Gallery & Museum.

Guild member and felt maker Anne Rogers said: “This has given the guild fresh energy and enabled us to display our work in a bright, modern contemporary space whilst the summer show celebrates our historic roots. Some of our founder members came from Chipping Campden and it feels right to be maintain those links.”

One of the Guild’s newest members, Rowan McOnegal has recently been awarded a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Award from the Worshipful Company of Glaziers.

Her award-winning work which she created at a masterclass with Judith Schaechter, will be on display at the Summer Show alongside work from fellow glass artist and Guild member Amanda Lawrence who has collaborated with children’s book author Christine O’Neill and illustrated the story entirely out of glass.

  • The Summer Show is open daily from 10am-6pm apart from August 23 when it closes at 4pm. Admission is free. Go to www.guildcrafts.org.uk/exhibitions for more.