Sandown Park

Sandown Park is a rare event on this tour as it is a non marquee event, taking place in an exhibition hall under the main stand of Sandown Park race course. This presents us with new and different challenges that are symptomatic of the UK in the Twenty First Century. The health and safety issues surrounding our demonstration taking place indoors, even though I normally work indoors at the work shop at home, are always interesting. However a new challenge of coping with a number of overzealous security guards who were intent on not getting caught watching the local fireworks display whilst leaving important entrances and exits unattended was something I had not encountered before.

This was our second visit to Sandown with Living Heritage this year and although the numbers attending the show were less than expected, those who did attend were educated crafts collectors and a number of exhibitors had their best show of the year so far! We had particularly good sales at this show and also have a number of ongoing projects that have stemmed from Sandown Park.

Each morning, when we are at these shows, there is essential maintenance that has to be carried out on the furnace between 6.30 and 7am to be ready to do the demonstrations at 10.30am. At this time in the morning it can feel like you are the only person awake but the strange stillness and the stunning views are truly inspiring!

This next picture which was taken onSunday morning, and a few others like it, have been the source material for a new body of work about sunrises which I am currently working on.

A number of our fellow exhibitors have been expressing their wishes to have a go at blowing glass. Bob and Andy have been the first to be brave enough to have a go.