North East Artists You Need to Know
Northern artists you need to know now
Amy Rutherford Ceramics
Based near Newcastle, Amy is a potter who makes wheel-thrown ceramic home- and tableware. Combining altered forms with reactive glazes, she makes timeless yet functional pieces including mugs, graters, spoon rests, wax melters and even personalised pet bowls. If her creations inspire you, Amy also runs workshops suitable for beginners so you can have a go at making your own.
Living North loves: Heart shaped dish, from £14
amyrutherfordceramics.com
Anna Longville
Sunderland artist Anna Longville’s cute cup lid paintings were a lockdown idea, and now they’re selling at makers’ markets across the region. Anna creates characterful watercolour and ink illustrations, predominantly of local North East landmarks, as well as her cup lid paintings. Read our recent interview with Anna at livingnorth.com to learn more.
Living North loves: Arbeia Roman Fort card, £3
annalongville.com
Bethan Maddocks
Newcastle-based visual artist Bethan Maddocks is a storyteller. From her studio, Bethan makes large-scale interactive sculptures and installations using light, paper, fabric and various objects. Bethan works regularly with Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Museums Northumberland, and you might’ve spotted her work on display in The Sill at the beginning of this year. Feeling inspired? Bethan’s workshops include papercutting, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, free play and collage.
Living North loves: Book of Shadows 2016
bethanmaddocks.com
Becky Helliar
Ouseburn-based potter Becky Helliar makes fabulous and functional stoneware pieces, some of which are a little bit cheeky. From mugs to soap dishes and vases, her stoneware pieces and sets are unique and she throws and decorates them using her signature rawpot glaze effects.
Living North loves: Espresso cup and saucer, £25
instagram.com/rawpots_northeast
Claire A Baker
Teesside’s Claire A Baker specialises in textiles and was awarded Tees Valley Artist of the Year this year. She sells embroidery and tapestry kits to engage others to be creative, as well as a vibrant series of ‘storytelling’ scarves.
Living North loves: Mapping Motifs storytelling scarf, £185
claireabaker.shop
Darren Mundy
Visitors to Living North’s Fairs are no stranger to Darren Mundy, who paints his Hilltown paintings from his home studio in Whitley Bay. He works in acrylics and uses a vivid colour palette to achieve maximum impact, with a strong contrast of light and dark. Alongside his originals, Darren sells jigsaws, calendars, cards, coasters and ceramics.
Living North loves: Star Of The North card, £2.50
darrenmundy.co.uk
Faye Greenman
Sunderland artist Faye Greenman paints abstract art that’s in demand around the world. A Northumbria University fashion graduate, Faye uses paint to share emotions and memories and her collections of work come together to tell different stories.
Living North loves: Turn Away limited edition print, £125
fayegreenman.com
Jane Charles Studio Glass
Newcastle-based Jane Charles is one of the last independent glass makers in the North East and her work can be found in shops and galleries throughout the UK. She produces a wide range of free-blown studio glass vases, bowls, bottles paperweights and sculptural forms in an array of vivid colours, textures and finishes – and each piece is unique.
Living North loves: Swirly cut weight, £82
janecharlesstudioglass.co.uk
Emily Ward
When she’s not exhibiting at Living North’s Christmas Fair, you can find Emily Ward’s art within her North Shields-based studio (available to visit by appointment). Her pretty paintings (many of which depict the North East’s most iconic landmarks) are also available on gifts and homeware including jigsaws, china cups, decorations, cushions and coasters.
Living North loves: St James’ Park canvas print, £89
emilywardart.com
Jenny Ulyatt
Jenny Ulyatt is a local contemporary watercolour artist who paints colourful landscapes full of movement and life, and she sells original paintings, pots, prints and cards. They’re all inspired by the landscapes and places surrounding us, and our relationships with them.
Living North loves: Moorland Haze original painting, £650
jennyulyatt.com
Jill Campbell
County Durham-based painter Jill Campbell is passionate about showing the beauty of the landscape surrounding her and takes a lot of her inspiration from the ancient mining landscape of Cockfield Fell. She’s currently represented by Silson Contemporary but has exhibited her work in galleries and exhibitions UK-wide including the New Light Prize exhibition.
Living North loves: Autumn Glow acrylic on canvas
jillcampbell.info
Jina Gelder
Jina is a wildlife artist who enjoys exploring the natural world with a focus on British wildlife. She works with ink and watercolours for her pieces, and you can also commission her to capture a perfect pet portrait (or another sentimental piece you’d like to hang on your wall). Jina also runs art workshops to teach you how to capture wildlife on paper.
Living North loves: ‘Bee Curious’ original painting, £380
geegeedesigns.co.uk
Joanna Castor
Joanna Castor is the face behind the brand Sea Stone Jewellery, which was born from her love of creativity and living on the coast, immersed in nature and beauty. Joanna has been a metalsmith for seven years working exclusively in sterling silver and gold, encompassing ethically-sourced semi-precious stones and sea glass to create unique, bespoke pieces of jewellery. Drawing inspiration for her designs from the dramatic North East coast and producing them in her home workshop in Saltburn, her jewellery can be purchased via her website and a selection of local stockists. For commissions of bespoke pieces private studio appointments are made on request.
Living North loves: Sea glass pendant, £70
seastonejewellery.co.uk | etsy.com/seastonebyjoanna
Katherine Hodgkinson
Katherine Hodgkinson is a maker and illustrator from Newcastle inspired by slow crafting. She has a passion for making minimalist objects by hand that bring the beauty of the outdoors in, and hand makes copper wire flowers and displays them in a number of ways – some in frames and others in glass bottles. These designs are also available as key rings, whilst her sketches are equally beautiful (especially when transferred onto dinner candles).
Living North loves: Large artificial wire flowers in glass bottle, £28
etsy.com
Lucy Waters
Newcastle University graduate Lucy Waters is one of three winners of the North East Emerging Artist Award this year. You might’ve spotted some of her pieces in Baltic’s Open Submission 2024 or in the pages of our September issue. Lucy’s current creations involve researching subjects and depicting her responses by a painting onto upcycled dishes, with a nod to traditional tableware.
Living North loves: North East Emerging Artist Award collection
instagram.com/waters_artlucy
Mul
North East street artist, Mul (Alec Mulholland) has decorated Newcastle, Gateshead and beyond with his murals and motifs, and you might’ve spotted more of his artwork within Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. He’s best known for The Running Heart, a motif that features in lots of his work, and he sells his art as screen prints as well as on tote bags and T-shirts.
Living North loves: Peace and Love screenprint, £125
mul-draws.com
Rhianne Sian
Rhianne Sian, an artist from Durham, set up her own illustration and surface pattern design business taking inspiration from the architecture, wildlife and landscapes around her. She initially launched her business in December 2018 whilst still working part time and now her illustrations are sold as prints but also on homeware, notebooks and bags. Read more about her work at livingnorth.com.
Living North loves: Stag – Hart of Gold illustrated print, £20
rhiannesian.co.uk
Robert Myers
Robert Myers paints striking scenes of Newcastle, avoiding the obvious and immersing the viewer in locations which are familiar to everyday life. We love his Urban View series of graffiti scenes, limited edition location paintings of local landmarks.
Living North loves: Urban View IV original, £550
robertmyersart.com
Sam Wood
Newcastle-born contemporary painter Sam Wood captures modern life in his paintings through oil on canvas. You might’ve spotted his work on display in The Biscuit Factory or Hancock Gallery, as well as at Living North’s Fairs. His clever use of colour and recognisable scenes (including paintings of paintings within galleries) make his art unique.
Living North loves: Viewing Turner limited edition and signed giclee print, £39–60
samwoodart.co.uk
Sue Fenlon
A familiar face at Living North’s Fairs, Sue Fenlon’s paintings capture nature through the seasons – landscapes and seascapes, wildflower hedgerows, meadows and pathways. She focuses on the colours and textures each season brings.
Living North loves: Autumn Cottage canvas, £132
suefenlonart.co.uk
Susan Crowe
North East artist Susan Crowe paints landscapes and animals, mainly in oils, and takes inspiration from the natural world. She also sells giclee prints and other merchandise featuring her artwork.
Living North loves: Silver Birches framed canvas in oils, £160
susancroweart.co.uk
Trevor Craggs
Trevor Craggs’s mountain and seascape oil paintings, limited edition prints and cards are atmospheric, and he also sells ceramic tableware, candle pots and holders.
Living North loves: Splendid Sunrise over Bamburgh Castle framed painting, £850
trevorcraggs.co.uk
Yvette Earl
Yvette Earl, a passionate graphic designer and illustrator working between Newcastle and Carlisle, combines her love for the outdoors, architecture and fashion. Yvette creates dreamlike scenes depicting the region’s hotspots that are instantly recognisable.
Living North loves: Newcastle Quayside, from £16
yvette-earl.com
