July events diary

Art in Action

This great day out in Oxfordshire is a lively buzzing fair that embraces painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, calligraphy, illustration, glass, metalwork, jewellery, textiles and woodwork.

A new international section presents artists from many different disciplines and cultures. Participation is part of the fun, with classes in a huge range of subjects, from mosaic making to pottery, drawing, glass and enameling - over 4,000 places over four days.

There are even a class for children as young as three. Book in advance on the website - demand is high. Or attend a lecture organised by the National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies (NADFAS).

Shopping opportunities abound, with a craft market with more than 100 designer-makers. Plus live music, performance artists, children’s storytelling, wine, champagne and cream teas.

Dates are 15-18 July, 10am-5.30pm daily. Tickets cost: adults, £15 each (£14 online); senior citizens, £12 (£11 on line); concessions £8 (£7 on line); children nine to 17 years, £5 (£4 on line); under nines, free.

Readers ticket offer: buy three tickets, get one free
Homes & Property readers can buy three adult tickets online (artinaction.org.uk) before 11 July 2010 and get a fourth one free (total cost £42, a saving of £14). Simply enter the promotional code: EVESTA.
Waterperry House, near Wheatley, Oxon; 020 7381 3192; artinaction.org.uk.

Luminous spirit

Finely-shaped glass ‘spinning tops’ in captivating jewel colours by contemporary artist Kay Holford are presented in an exhibition at the innovative Vessel Gallery, open now until the end of the month, Mondays to Saturdays, 10am-6pm.
114 Kensington Park Road, London, W11; 020 7727 8001; vesselgallery.com.

Kaleidoscope at Mint

Celebrating summer - and their move from Wigmore Street to the Brompton Design District – Mint, the fabulously eclectic emporium for contemporary design, presents a mixed show of summer treasures typically blurring the boundaries between design, art and fashion. New pieces by Established & Sons have come from Milan, along with the Chip Table series by Camiel Weijenbird. Vibrant paintings by Natasha Law will also be on display, along with garments glued together with no stitched seams, by the appropriately named Gluejeans. Catch it now until 10 July, 2010.
2 North Terrance, SW3; 020 7225 2228; www.mintshop.co.uk.

Free Range Art & Design

Billed as Europe’s largest graduate show, and celebrating its 10th anniversary, this vibrant fair fills the Old Truman Brewery with work from universities all over the UK, and is open until 26 July, 2010. This is your chance to invest in an emerging star. Each week is dedicated to a different discipline – coming up is art, interiors and mixed media.
91 Brick Lane, E1; 020 7770 6003; free-range.org.uk; trumanbrewery.com.

Sandown Park Antique and Vintage Fairs

These popular family-run fairs are on the racecourse and there is a free bus from Esher station. Find rare and specialist items from all corners of the globe, including antiques, vintage, textiles, furniture, jewelry, glass, silver, crockery, collectables, treen, fashion, and homewares from hundreds of stalls.

And the hours are very sociable compared with the rest of the antiques trade - from mid morning to mid afternoon. Tickets cost £5 each (concessions £3).
Dates are Sunday 18 July, Sunday 12 September, Tuesday 19 October and Sunday 21 November, 2010.
Sandown Park Race Course, Esher, Surrey; 020 7249 4050; wonderwhistle.co.uk.

E17 Designers Markets

Just the place for unusual handmade products, including jewellery, fashion for all ages, accessories for the home, exclusive posters, art prints, ceramics and more. Pick up a gift for a summer or autumn wedding or a special birthday…or spoil yourself or your home. Plus music from Tony Tunes and The Rose & Crown Singers. Entry of £1 includes a free drink. From 2 to 6pm.
July 24: Leytonstone Library, 6-8 Church Lane, E11;
12 September: Asian Centre, 18a Orford Road, Wathamstow, E17.

Guerrilla Craft Markets

More crafts from East London (be sure to sample the particularly delicious cakes) are on sale in the garden of Beautiful Interiors on 31 July and 28 August, 2010, from 10am to 5.30pm. Free entry. This group also run monthly DIY craft nights – for details, visit eastlondoncraftguerrilla.com.
34 Orford Road, Walthamstow Village, E17.

New Silk Road

Free for all to see in the glass ‘tank’ on the river side of the Design Museum is a small collection of complex digitally-printed fabrics by fashion designers Basso & Brooke. They are based on journeys in Uzbekistan by Bruno Basso and Christopher Brooke, sponsored by the British Council as part of an ongoing exchange programme which also embraces, Kazakhstan, Iran, Pakistan and Bangladesh. British designers bring a fresh take on contemporary design and in return gain inspiration from far-flung cultures and art/craft traditions. Until 24 August 2010.
Shad Thames, SE1; 020 7940 8790; designmuseum.org.

Craft Central Recycles

A two-day shopping event full of bargains with a green theme. Browse brooches, bags, buntings, t-shirts and cards all made by designers from old materials. 11am to 3pm – perfect for a lunch time outing. Admission is free. 6-7 July 2010 at Craft Central.
33-35 St John’s Square, London, EC1; craftcebtrak.org.uk.

Textile Taxidermy

It’s a dog’s life this month at weaver Margo Selby’s studio (where she holds regular workshops). Donya Coward has brought her animal sculptures, made from hand-sewn textiles, trims and beading. These include The Dog Portrait Series, with breeds such as the Pug, Greyhound, English Bull Terrier and Black Scottish Highland Terrier. Then there are the more elaborate freestanding dogs, crafted from old lace, gold lame, cut glass buttons, pearls and other found treasures. Accordingly, find two Jack Russell Parson Terriers climbing over Margo Selby’s freshly upholstered chesterfield, covered in her new upholstery fabrics. She doesn’t seem to mind. Open now until 2 October, 2010.
4-11 Galen Place, Pied Bull Yard, WC1; 020 7242 6322; margoselby.com.

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

This is the largest annual flower show in the world, say the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), and the dates this year are 6-11 July, 2010. Watch out for a traditional russet apple orchard, complete with beehives and a small flock of lively Brahma chickens. Get great ideas for growing your own food from RHS experts; plus cookery demonstrations as well.

The show is open daily from 10am to 7.30pm, and ticket prices range from £17.50 to £32 each. Call 0844 338 7524 or visit rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace for more details.
Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey.

Projects Review at the AA

Here is the past year’s work of over 650 students at the Architectural Association (AA) School’s Projects Review. See hundreds of drawings, models, installations and photographs in the AA’s new buildings around Bedford Square.
26 Bedford Square, London WC1; 020 7887 4111; aaschool.ac.uk.