Book tickets: Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2017 at Upper Campfield Market

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair celebrates 10 years of creativity when it moves to a new site – Upper Campfield Market – this October. Over 150 of the UK’s sharpest designer-makers will centre on the city with three days of textiles, jewellery, furniture, print-making and much more. Since ‘B of the Bang’ designer Thomas Heatherwick launched the first Fair in 2008, the event has sold £2.5million in contemporary crafts. This year, visitors can enjoy more insight than ever into the fabric of the creative industry, with workshops, pop-up studios and talks by leading designers. There are also curated showcases from specially-chosen ‘Great Northern Graduates’ and the Craft Council’s Hothouse emerging talent scheme. With the Fair running from Friday to Sunday, there will be plenty of time for inspirational browsing in the Grade II listed Upper Campfield Market – however, if you fancy something more networky, then don’t miss the preview evening on Thursday 12 October from 6pm. There are huge numbers of exhibitors: here are some that caught Manchester Wire’s eye.

1. The ceramics of Chris Turrell-Watts are moulded through modern eyes: his creations are influenced by Japanese anime. His playful productions, including moon-gazing birds and lions, also take their cue from children’s television. The Liverpool creative has worked with clay for over 25 years and was consultant to Turner Prize winners Assemble.

2. Nottingham artist Rosie Deegan brought a design eye to DIY with her ‘Impotent Tools’, turning saws into delicate mosaics. She’s inspired by the William Morris motto of only owning things that are useful or beautiful. Deegan was a Crafts magazine ‘Talent Spot’ and is part of the Crafts Council’s 2017 Hothouse programme.

3. Lucy Gell’s humorous hand-made prints were featured in the Royal Exchange earlier this year. After exhibiting everywhere from Devon to Derbyshire, her comical menagerie now returns to the Craft Fair for 2017. Her dogs, cats and 3D birds are made with a variety of techniques, from acid plate etching to Gocco screen-printing.

4. Laser-cut lampshades add a whole new look to home design, as seen in the works from former dancer Neb Abbott. Keen shoppers will have seen Ned exhibiting at Altrincham market. He looks to nature for mathematical forms – the dramatic shapes cast by his sculptural lighting have to be seen to be believed.

5. Great Northern Graduates are degree show rising stars especially picked to appear at the Fair. One of those stars is Sarah Tommins, who spins a fascinating yarn with experimental knitwear. Her minimal designs go beyond traditional winter and summer clothing, instead looking to urban spaces, function within architecture, and council estate street style.

Thu 12 – Sun 15 Oct, Upper Campfield Market Hall, Campfield Arcade, Manchester M3 4FN. Thu 6pm–9.30pm, Fri–Sun 10am–6pm, Thu £10, Fri–Sun £7.50 (£5.50 adv), weekend pass £12, www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk