'The Christmas Present' Exhibition

Flowerfield Arts Centre will host an exhibition of unique craft gift items ideal for Christmas, made by some of the north coast's best makers.  Come along to 'The Christmas Present' to buy turned wood, glass jewellery, pottery, prints, scarves, bags and much more!  See photos of their work below.

Special opening evening from 7-10pm Wednesday 4th December.  Meet the makers and have a glass of mulled wine.  And a pottery demonstration by Adam Frew.

Open late (10pm) on Thurs 5th, Fri 6th, Tues 10th, Wed 11th and Thurs 12th December.

Adam Frew Ceramics

Louise McLean Baskets

Billy Henry Turned Wood

Helen Perry Textiles

Jennifer Stewart Crochet

Catherine Keenan Glass

Pen Jones Print

Jacki Sleator Felt

Lesley Frew Jewellery

Kirsty Martin Plastics

Matt Pothecary Glass

Helen Walshaw Hats

Merve Jones Print

Robert Spotten Jewellery

Scott Benefield Glass

Natasha Duddy Glass Jewellery

Film of Hot Glass at Flowerfield

From 16th - 20th April Flowerfield Arts Centre, through Creative Causeway and funded by the Garfield Weston Trust, hosted a range of hot glass activities, including workshops for University of Ulster students in glass blowing with Scott Benefield and lampworking with Catherine Keenan.  On the Saturday Scott and Catherine gave public demonstrations in glass blowing.  It was a rare opportunity to see glassblowing in Northern Ireland!

Adam Frew put together a short film of the events:

Hot Glass at Flowerfield

Over the next few weeks there will be quite a bit of hot glass activity happening at Flowerfield Arts Centre.

Renowned american glass blower Scott Benefield will be bringing his portable furnace to the Arts Centre in order to offer workshops to University of Ulster students and also for 5th and 6th form students of local schools to view glass blowing demos. This will take place from Wednesday 17th -Friday 19th April.

On Saturday 20th April from 11am-3pm there will be public glass blowing demos by Scott and Catherine Keenan. This is a rare opportunity to see the process of manipulating and blowing molten glass.

Scott glassblowing at Flowerfield last year

For the first time resident artist Catherine Keenan will be teaching a night class in lampworking. This is due to start on Tuesday 16th April and run for five weeks, from 6.30-9.30pm every night.  This course will allow her to help students get a firm grip on making beads and also learn and experiment with form and pattern application. Fee: £82, £77 concession

She will also be teaching a one day class on Saturday 4th May from 10am-4pm.  Students will learn how to make a basic bead and also a variety of colour and pattern techniques. Fee: £55

For more information or to enrol on either lampworking class contact Flowerfield: 028 70831400

Lampworking class

Open Studio/Craft Sale

Date: Saturday 1st December

Time: 11am-5pm

If you are looking for some interesting Christmas present bargains, look no further than Flowerfield Arts Centre on Saturday December 1st. On that day resident craft artists Adam Frew (ceramics) and Catherine Keenan (glass) will be selling some of their beautiful pieces directly from their studios. Also taking part will be a number of Adam and Catherine’s friends, specially invited craft artists – so there will be many opportunities to pick up a perfect Christmas gift or something unusual for your own home. There will also be glass lampworking demonstrations on the day, and all are welcome to attend – the event will only run on Saturday December 1st, from 11am to 5pm. 

Drawing by Adam Frew!

Film of Scott Benefield Glassblowing

Scott Benefield's glassblowing demonstration at Flowerfield Arts Centre on Sunday 3rd June.

Film by resident potter Adam Frew

Glassblowing Demonstration

Last Sunday Scott Benefield and Andrea Spencer arrived at Flowerfield Arts Centre with their portable electric furnace and 'flat-packed' studio!  With in a very short space of time the pottery room here was converted into a fully functioning glassblowing studio, with furnace, bench, glory-hole and marver.

The event kicked off at 2pm, firstly with a short lampworking demonstration by Catherine Keenan and then with Scott and Andrea explaining the process of blowing to an enthralled audience.  It was a rare opportunity to witness blowing molten glass in Northern Ireland and for many people it was the first time they saw the process up close.

First gather from Scott's new furnace

Onlooking crowd as Scott marvers the glass

Scott shaping the glass as Andrea blows

Andrea bringing a punty

Opening the vessel

Making a lip on a jug

Andrea making a handle

Putting the handle on

Finishing the beer mug!

Resident artist Catherine Keenan gathering

Shaping the bubble

Furnace going home!

Wood Firing Workshop

Last Saturday, 2nd June, Flowerfield Arts Centre hosted a wood firing workshop run by resident potter, Adam Frew, and assisted by Peter Montgomery.  It was a rare and exhilarating opportunity for participants to not only have pieces fired in an outdoor kiln fuelled by wood, but also to help in the actual stoking of the kiln through out the day.  The workshop began at 9am with students glazing pots and then packing the kiln.  Then a small fire was lit at the front , and stoked throughout the day giving a steady climb in temperature up to 1300℃.  The grand finale of 'crash cooling' the kiln saw Adam and Peter packing as much wood in as they could before sealing the kiln.

The wood firing was successful in creating interesting effects on the pots, the flames coloured the pots and the wood ash formed glazes, warm reds to cool blues.

Stoking the kiln

The grand finale: crash cooling

Reduction cool

Kiln sealed up

Peter, Adam and participants, Laurian and Frieda

Fired Pots

Baby Light my Fire!

 As part of the celebrations marking the journey of the Olympic torch across the north coast of N.Ireland, Flowerfield Arts Centre will host 2 events that celebrate the manipulation of fire in the creation of craft. Admission free!

Saturday 2nd June:
Adam Frew will be firing a wood kiln on the grounds of Flowerfield.  Learn about eastern influenced, high temperature, wood fired ceramics and experience the process first hand!  A group of participants will have the opportunity to make and fire their work in the kiln (sold out), and the public are invited to watch the firing as it progresses.

 Adam wood firing

The 'Pack'

Sunday 3rd June:
A unique opportunity to see glass blowing in Northern Ireland! Andrea Spencer, Scott Benefield and Catherine Keenan work, talk and explain the magic of manipulating molten glass.  This 2000-year-old hot craft is brought bang up to date through the creative skill of these artists.  Come and see the action, meet the artists and enjoy the experience.

Scott Benefield

Andrea Spencer

Catherine Keenan