Meet the QEST makers at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

We’re delighted to be joined by five QEST Scholars at this year’s Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (GNCCF). Now in its 17th year, the GNCCF is a nationally renowned selling fair where visitors can discover the works of over 150 leading makers and craftspeople.

Makers featuring on the QEST stand comprise:

• Jay Heston (Furniture making)
• Laura Hunter (Leatherwork)
• Louisa Boyd (Printmaking)
• Momoka Gomi (Hand weaving)
• Sarah Loughlin (Basketry)

From wax carving to leather restoration, each maker will demonstrate their craft during the show, giving visitors an inside look into their process. GNCCF will take place at the iconic Victoria Baths in Manchester from 17-20 October.

See event details here.

Jay Heston
Furniture making

Jay Heston is a self-taught designer-maker, whose studio Don Heston Studio (DHS), is dedicated to ethical craftsmanship. Each unique, handmade piece utilises sustainable materials, ensuring longevity and minimising environmental impact. DHS focuses on small runs and one-off objects that are distinctive, innovative, and resourceful, reflecting a commitment to creativity and sustainability.

Laura Hunter
Leatherwork

Laura Hunter created Tiska Leatherwork and Repairs out of a love of Scandinavia (specifically Iceland), and the scent of leather. Her workshop is home to her signature bags and accessories, hand-cut and sewn using minimalist lines and strong shapes to create timeless pieces. It is in her workshop that Laura also repairs and restores clients’ beloved leather items. She’s also currently working with Simon Isles Coachbuilding to restore the leatherwork and interiors of their customers’ classic cars.

Louisa Boyd
Printmaking

Louisa Boyd is a printmaker whose work centres around the persistent human desire to belong within the natural world. She considers environment and how we navigate place in her sculptural works and etching prints. Her work features celestial symbols, sacred geometry and map-like imagery to describe a sense of belonging.

Momoka Gomi
Hand weaving

Momoka hand-weaves a textile with the impact of time passages on its surface. Her woven cloth is a fabric that can embrace notions of personal expression and lived experiences over time. Colours may be subtle, fading into surface textures, eroded in places to represent the life stories of the owner.

Sarah Loughlin
Basketry

Sarah Loughlin, co-founder of Hopewood Baskets, creates a range of functional baskets and sculptural vessels. With an emphasis on strong silhouettes and crisp architectural patterns, Sarah’s work seeks a balance between artistry and functionality, with roots in ancient techniques and traditions of willow basketry.