HARBOUR House in Kingsbridge is the venue for a lively and varied exhibition of arts and crafts in time for Christmas. Present Maker opens at the art gallery on Tuesday, December 1.

The collection includes work by nine members of the South Hams Arts Forum and offers unique works of art that you won’t find in high street shops.?There will be an opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy festive refreshments in the art gallery on Saturday, December 5 as part of the ‘Kingsbridge celebrates Christmas’ event.

Christine East’s unique silver jewellery includes cuffs and delicately formed necklaces created by knitting with pure silver wire and incorporating gemstone chips, crystals and pearls. She also makes brooches and pendants created by fusing and soldering recycled silver shreds.

A member of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, Inka Gabriel is a maker of contemporary lights using traditional copper foiling techniques and white opaque or opalescent glass or, more recently, recycled Victorian and Edwardian lantern glass.

Sally Wilkinson cuts elaborate designs out of paper, and is also a bookmaker. She says: ‘I love the shape and the feel of words. They have a movement and texture that people miss. I like to make people look, really look at words and hear them. I find my work developing in ways that I didn’t expect. I have gone from the straightforward and legible to more abstract shapes.’

Caroline Barker is well known locally for her illustrative printmaking and delightful handmade books combining handprinted imagery with calligraphy.

Amanda Brooks takes her inspiration from old Japanese paintings. Her motifs include local birds, sea life, insects and landscape and, as she paints onto gold or silver leaf, an important quality is that the colour shifts and shines depending on the light and the time of day.

Siân Dudley's watercolour paintings reflect her love of flowers and colour. She takes her inspiration from the play of light on and through Devon's wonderfully rich hedgerows.

Diana Booth’s oil paintings are contemporary, colourful and energetic. She uses a loose, abstract approach to describe the effect of constantly changing light on the rugged form and structure of the coastline and landscape of the South Hams and New Zealand.

Anna Ventura shows a range of art and design projects inspired by Devon, including original ink drawings and limited edition prints, paintings and hand-painted jewellery. Christine Thomas’s lively oil paintings and collage show her love of vibrant colour, texture and light.

Present Maker features a wide range of arts and crafts by members of the South Hams Arts Forum and opens at Harbour House on Tuesday, December 1.

There will be an opportunity to meet the artists on Saturday, December 5 in the art gallery. Opening times will be 10am – 5pm daily, except on Sundays when the event will open from 11am – 3pm. The exhibition closes on Sunday, December 13.

Admission is free.