All the Christmas Doings

Adele / craft fairs, Creative Peninsula, Creative Peninsula, Events, Exhibitions, Late Night Art Bangor, News, Society of Wildlife Artists

In October, the new Bingham Lane Festival took place in Bangor . The festival was a great success an I hope it will become an annual event. Now we have turned our attention to Christmas!

Shortly after Bingham, I travelled to London to attend the opening of the Society of Wildlife Artists annual exhibition, “The Natural Eye”. The very popular ‘Out of the Frame’ room was dedicated to work produced so far for the Massingham Heath Project,

Although the exhibition is now finished, you can still browse the work on line on the Mall Galleries website:

https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/exhibitions-events/society-wildlife-artists-natural-eye-2025

Artists in the Natural World

13 November – 13 January Stapleford Granary, Cambridge

Some of the work from the Natural Eye, including my unsold pieces, has now travelled to Cambridge as part of another exhibition. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to be included!

See the Stapleford Granary Website

Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition

19 October 25 – until 4 January 26

I am happy so say that, for the first time in many years, I have had a piece accepted into this year’s exhibition. I am even happier to report that it has sold! The Show is now open to the public in the Ulster Museum in Belfast, and runs until 4 January, so plenty of time to get to see it.

See more on the RUA website

I have one more trip away planned to Thought Bubble comic convention in Harrogate. It will be a chance to immerse myself in all things comic book, and add a few new items to my small, but growing graphic story collection!

Bobs Favourite time of year

Once I get back from Harrogate, it will be all go for the Christmas craft fairs! Bob’s favourite time of year!

Here is a run down of where you can find me or my work over the next few weeks:

Craft NI at Knit and Stitch

The Eikon Exhibition Centre

13th – 16th November 2025.

My work will be featured on the Craft NI stand at the Knit and Stitch show along with many other makers from the Gallery. You can find us all on stand E96!

Book Tickets

Made in AND Pop up Christmas Shop

Thursday 20 Nov – Sunday 4 Jan

I’ll be taking part in the Made in AND Pop-up Christmas Shop again this year. 20 talented local artists and crafters will be featured.

While you’re there, warm up with a festive drink or seasonal treat from the museum café – the perfect way to complete your visit!

The shop is free to visit during our normal opening hours:

Tuesdays – Saturdays 10am – 4pm Sundays 12noon – 4pm

Twililght Shopping Event

On Thursday 27 November, join us at North Down Museum for our Twilight Christmas Shopping event. Enjoy live music and craft demonstrations while you browse the Pop Up Christmas Shop. While you are in town, why not explore all the venues open for Late Night art!

Thursday 27 November

6pm – 9pm. Admission is free.

Find Out More

Last Late Night Art of the Year

Thursday 27 November
6-9pm

Late Night Art will be taking a break in December, so November will be the last one for 2025! We are hoping to make it a good one with a studio sale in Boom, and lots of other activities around the town.

Come and visit your local creatives in their natural habitat!

Find out More

North Down Craft Collective Christmas Art and Craft Market

Sunday 30th November, 10.00am – 4.00pm

We will be back at WWT Castle Espie this festive season!

The 2025 North Down Craft Collective Christmas Fair will take place on Sunday 30th November in the visitor centre from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Over 30 artists and makers will be showcasing their work making your Christmas gift buying a pleasure this year!

Enjoy festive music, treats from the Kingfisher Cafe and your chance to meet the makers.

Admission to the fair is free of charge (normal charges apply to visit the wetland area)

Find out More

HARK

St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast Thursday 5th December at 7.30pm

Join us in an atmospheric night in St Anne’s Cathedral with live music, food and lots of beautiful gifts from local artists and crafts people.

This is a new fair for me so I am looking forward to exhibiting in an extra special christmas atmosphere.

Book Tickets

Creative Peninsula Christmas Fayre

Late Night Shopping: Fri 5 Dec | 4pm – 8pm Small Business Saturday: Sat 6 Dec | 10am – 4pm

You can find my work at the Creative Peninsula Christmas Art and Craft Fayre, at Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards!

This unique Christmas Fayre features some of the fantastic artists and makers of the Creative Peninsula, with a variety of gift options to inspire you to help you find that perfect gift!

There will also be live seasonal music from local musicians, as well as complementary festive refreshments and gift wrapping!

Support local and handmade this Christmas, and we look forward to welcoming you there!

Find out more

All the Christmas Doings Read More »

Adele Pound photographed next to her pieces exhibited at the Natural Eye Exhibition

London Adventures and Christmas events

Adele / craft fairs, Creative Peninsula, Creative Peninsula, Events, Exhibitions, News, Uncategorised

Back from London and into The Christmas Events

Bob and I are not long back from our annual trip to london for “The Natural Eye”, the annual exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists. It was great to catch up with friends and the wildlife art community once again. I was pleased to find I had been hung in the main gallery this year, and also had an image included in the Catalogue. The physical show is now finished, but all the pieces from the show can still be viewed on the Mall Galleries Website.

Now we are back and set to launch ourselves at the festive season.

View the Natural Eye on Line…

Bob Contemplates More Travels

As well as the the exhibition, we took ourselves off to the Natural History Museum for the day where we visited the “Birds Brilliant and Bizarre” exhibition. We enjoyed pressing buttons, felt a humming birds heart beat and Bob tried out a swiflet nest. As well as the obligitory souvenir pencil, we also picked up “The Inside Out of Flies” by the Natural History Museum’s very own Erica McAlister. Can’t wait to delve into that!

But we have one more adventure lined up. We will be off to Harrogate to visit the UK’s largest comic convention “Thought Bubble”, something I have been wanting to do for a couple of years.

We will report back, but in the mean time, read on for our upcoming events in November and December…

Ulster Watercolour Society Annual Exhibition

6 – 17 November 2024
11am – 4pm each day (closes at 1pm on 17th)
Merville House, Merville Garden Village, Newtownabbey.

The Ulster Watercolour Society Annual Exhibition continues until Sunday 17 November at Merville House. I have 2 framed, and 4 unframed pieces on show.

Find out More…

Christmas Pop up Shop and Twilight Shopping Event at North Down Museum

I am happy to say I will be displaying my work at North Down Museum again this year. Join us on the evening of 28 November for an evening of twinkly lights, music, artists demonstrations and shopping. The museum will be festively decorated, the museum café will be open serving food and drink and visitors will be able to explore the museum and purchase unique gifts in a completely different way.

The shop is free to visit during normal museum opening hours right through the festive season and into the start of the new year.

Wednesday 20 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 12noon – 4pm
Closed Mondays

Twilight Shopping Event:
Thursday 28 November 2024, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Find out more…

The Creative Peninsula Christmas Fayre

This year I am again taking part in this popular fair which made its post covid comeback last year. Be inspired to purchase the perfect, unique, handcrafted Christmas gift in the opulent festive setting of the Georgian and Sunburst galleries of Ards Arts Centre.

Seasonal interludes, complimentary gift wrapping and festive refreshments.

Late Night Shopping Friday 6 December 4pm – 8pm
Saturday 7 December 10am – 4pm

Find Out More…

North Down Craft Collective Aim for a Big Finale at Castle Espie

The year long collaboration between North Down Craft Collective and Castle Espie will culminate in a Christmas Craft Fair on 8 December. Over 20 makers, myself included, will be setting up their stalls throughout the centre. Entry to the centre, and the cafe is free, so why not join us for some festive shopping!

Sunday 8 December 10am – 4pm

Find out more…

Boom Studios celebrates its 10th Birthday (Again!)

Boom Studios is celebrating its 10th birthday this year. We have already had one celebration exhibition, but we are going to do it all again in the studios themselves.

You will be able to get in for a nosey during our Open Studios event to coincide with the Bangor Christmas light switch on Saturday 23 November. The two Boom buildings will be open from 12pm – 5pm (don’t forget about us in Boom 2!)

There is even talk of a special birthday zine….watch this space!

www.boomstudios.org.uk

London Adventures and Christmas events Read More »

The Seasons of Bobs is fast Approaching! Christmas Craft Fairs where you can find me this year.

Adele / craft fairs, Creative Peninsula, Events, Exhibitions, News

I am just back from a trip to London where I attended the 60th Annual Exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists. While there, I also received the wonderful news that I have been elected as an associate member of the society. This news makes me both proud of this achievement and humbled to be counted among such illustrious wildlife artists, both past and present. It is also a joy to be part of this welcoming and supportive community of artists united by their love of nature and their desire to express and communicate its value through the work they make.

Now I am back in the studio and busy preparing for all the events in the next few weeks. Its Bobs favourite time of year and he is much in demand! Bobs in shops, make your own Bob workshops, Bobs at festive craft fairs, you name it! This starts TOMORROW with the Boom open studios, which coincides with the Bangor light switch on

Boom Open Studios and Light Switch on

Boom Studios is open part of the Christmas Passport Trail this Saturday! Come to our open day from 12-4pm and get your passport/stamp. Enjoy a workshop taster, refreshments and visit the artists working in their studios – we’ll finish up at 4, plenty of time to go down and see the lights switch on!

Lots of fun happening in Boom 1, but dont forget to have a peek in Boom 2 – next to the Heart Foundation shop. Ill be there 12 -4.

Free to attend event. Costs may apply to some activities.

Programme for the day:

5.30 pm The Switch On of the Christmas Lights at the McKee Clock arena

12noon – 7pm | Festive Bar and Food Village, Queen’s Parade car park

1pm – 6pm | Indoor Festive Market, Main Street (former TK Maxx Building)

Promotional image for North Down Museum Christmas Pop Up Shop

Promotional image for Late Night Shopping event at North Down Museum Christmas pop up shop

Made in AND – Pop up Christmas shop at North down Museum

The very popular pop up shop will once again be taking over the galleries and cafe at North Down Museum. This event is fast becoming a local seasonal tradition. Don’t miss the special late night Shopping event on Thursday 30th November! Join us for an evening of music, artists demonstrations and shopping. The museum will be festively decorated, the coffee shop will be open serving food and drink and visitors will be able to see the museum and purchase unique gifts in a completely different way.

North Down Museum, Bangor

Wednesday 22 November 2023 -Sunday 7 January 2024

Late Night Shopping Thursday 30 November 6-9pm

Museum opening times
Tuesday -Saturday 10am-4:00pm
Sundays 12noon-4:00pm
Closed on Mondays

Find out more…

Promotional image for Creative Peninsula Chrstmas Fayre

The Creative Peninsula Christmas Fayre Returns!

This Year sees the welcome return of the Christmas Craft Fayre in Ards Arts Centre after an absence of 3 years due to the Covid pandemic. The gap has been filled by a Christmas pop up shop for two years, but we are all excited to have one of the best fayres of the season back in our schedule,

Come and enjoy the opulent festive setting of Ards Arts Centre, with seasonal live music interludes, complementary gift wrapping, and festive refreshments! Take time out of the busy shopping crowds and get your December shopping campaign off to a great start.

Ards Arts Centre

Friday 1 December 4 -8 pm
Saturday 2 December 10am – 4 pm

Find out More…

North Down Craft Collective at the Court House, Bangor

My final event for this year will be at the Court House,Bangor. North Down Craft Collective will be returning for a third collaboration with this great venue in the lovingly restored Court House in Bangor.

Sunday 10 December 2023
The Court House Bangor
12 – 5pm

Find out more

Don’t Forget to Support your Local shops!

In the flurry of Fairs and events, it is easy to forget about your local craft and art shops that are there all year round. Here are a few where you can find some of my work. Get out and support them this festive season!

The Seasons of Bobs is fast Approaching! Christmas Craft Fairs where you can find me this year. Read More »

Exhibitions, Fairs and Pop up Shops

Adele / Events, Exhibitions, News

Here is a quick run down of where you can find me and my work in the run up to Christmas this year.

The Ulster Watercolour Society’s Annual Exhibition

There are still a few days to see the Ulster Watercolour Society’s 44th exhibition at Merville House in Merville Garden Village. There are unframed works available as well as the framed pieces. I have two of each in the exhibition.

The exhibition will be open
Wednesday 17th November – Sunday 28 November.

(closes at 1pm on the last day)
11am – 4pm daily (including Saturday and Sunday)

http://www.uws.org.uk/exhibition.html

http://www.mervillehouse.org/

Christmas Market at Kylestone Nurseries

Saturday 27th November
9am – 5pm
I am looking forward to being back at Kylestone Nurseries, Groomsport, for the grande finale of the North Down Craft Collective Christmas showcases. There will be 25 makers feeling festive in the glass houses where there will be plenty of space and ventilation. Bangor Ladies Choir will be serenading us at 11am, plus the nursery will have locally sourced christmas trees for sale!

Before the 27th, there is, of course, another showcase of 5 makers on 20th November. You can see which makers will be there by following the N orth Down Craft Collective Facebook page.

Christmas with the Creative Peninsula

Creative Peninsula Christmas Edit Pop-up Shop and Exhibition

Saturday 27 November – Friday 17 December 2021

Monday – Saturday: 10am – 4pm
Late Night: Thurs 9 and Fri 10 December

Ards Arts Centre

There will be a chance to meet some of the makers, though, as we are all volunteering to man the show in Ards Arts Centre. If you want to come and say hello , here are the dates and times that I will be there:

Tuesday 30th November 1pm – 4pm
Friday 10th December 6pm – 9pm
Tuesday 14th December 10am – 1pm

North Down Museum Christmas Made in AND

Wednesday 24 November 2021 – Sunday 2 January 2022

Museum opening times:
Tuesday -Saturday 10am-4:00pm, Sundays 12noon-4:00pm, Closed on Mondays.

North Down Museum

Exhibitions, Fairs and Pop up Shops Read More »