Design for the Home

Gatepost has news about the artists and makers C&C showcase online and in our exhibitions. To receive notification of C&C's exhibitions subscribe to the newsletter using the sign up form by clicking here.
  • Spotlight: Ella Porter - Marsh Mud Glazed Vessels

    Ceramic forms imbued with a true sense of place
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Spotlight: Ella Porter - Marsh Mud Glazed Vessels
    Drawing upon the unique landscape of Stiffkey Salt Marshes; this collection of works reflect on a sense of this special place through memories of coastal walks and observations of the landscape shifting and changing through seasons.
  • Spotlight: Victoria Fenn

    New table top sculpture for 2023
    Paul Barratt, Director and Curator at Contemporary and Country by Paul Barratt
    Crown III, 2023
    Crown III, 2023
    Victoria Fenn is a sculptor exploring memories and landscape motivated by her personal connection to the Cambridgeshire Fens, where she grew up on the family farm.
  • Living the Dream

    Preparing for the year ahead with all its challenges and opportunities
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Living the Dream
    We have witnessed fantastic night skies like this recently - this one painted by Norfolk-based artist, Claire Cansick. Work like this reminds us of the natural beauty surrounding us but also represents the opportunity to lift our gaze to see beyond the everyday. Can we really live the dream?
  • Compendia Guide 2022/23

    C&C are in on the inside track guide to Norwich and Norfolk
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Compendia Guide 2022/23
    Compendia is a new, comprehensive guide to independent businesses and organisations,that make Norwich and Norfolk so unique and such a great location to live. It includes Contemporary and Country. The guide features the best places to find culture, art, eat, drink, go shopping, for sleep and healing in Norwich and Norfolk.
  • Makers' Mark

    Handmade objects crafted for the home
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Makers' Mark
    Our winter 2022-23 programme begins with a selection of handmade pieces made by makers that complement each other and have been designed specifically for a domestic setting. All items are  original works, by well-established makers and available for sale. Perfect timing for those looking for a one-of-kind Christmas gift.
  • Avant Gardeners Concludes

    End of season at Houghton Hall Stables
    Paul Barratt, Director and Curator at Contemporary and Country by Paul Barratt
    Avant Gardeners Concludes
    As the Dahlias tip over into each other, drawn down with the weight of their heads, and we de-install Andrew Jones's wonderful kinetic sculptures in the walled garden, we are thankful to have reached the end of the summer season at Houghton Hall Stables.
  • Gallery Visit: Ernst Gamperl

    At Houghton Hall, Norfolk, until 25 September
    Paul Barratt, Director and Curator at Contemporary and Country by Paul Barratt
    Ernst Gamperl installation in the Stone Hall Houghton Hall
    Ernst Gamperl installation in the Stone Hall Houghton Hall
    Four years ago the sculptor and master wood turner, Ernst Gamperl, took delivery of a gift from the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley. It was an oak tree, recently felled, thought to be one of the trees already present when the Houghton Hall Estate was first established three hundred years ago, in 1722 by Sir Robert Walpole.
  • Second week of River's Edge exhibition

    Showcasing artists and makers from East Anglia
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Second week of River's Edge exhibition
    This is week two of C&C's current exhibition River's Edge at BallroomArts, (Formerly known as The Peter Pears Gallery) - at 152A High Street Aldeburgh. Situated just back from the beach and off the main high street.
  • Exhibition opening for River's Edge

    C&C at BallroomArts, Aldeburgh, Suffolk
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Legend 13, Aldeburgh, by Ed Lee, River's Edge at BallroomArts, Suffolk
    Legend 13, Aldeburgh, by Ed Lee, River's Edge at BallroomArts, Suffolk
    A huge thank you to Ben of Fishers Gin and his team at @fishersgin and Claire and her team at Aldeburgh Outside Catering who made our private view @ballroomartsaldeburgh last night go so well, providing refreshing smoked gin cocktails and delicious canapés. Our River's Edge pop-up exhibition runs for the first two weeks of the Aldeburgh Festival @brittenpearsarts in Snape and throughout the Suffolk coast. The Courtyard Gallery at BallroomArts contains art and handmade items by artists and makers from across East Anglia, all have a connection to the East Anglian landscape.
  • Additions to the Houghton Hall Contemporary Art Collection

    New additions make a visit to Houghton even more memorable for 2022
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Tony Cragg installation at Houghton Hall 2021
    Tony Cragg installation at Houghton Hall 2021
    Making a day out rediscovering the wonders of the main house after being closed for two years due to COVID restrictions gives visitors an opportunity to fall in love with the art inside the house and outside in the gardens and parkland again.

  • River's Edge exhibition in Aldeburgh, Suffolk

    BallroomArts 7 to 19 June 2022
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    River's Edge exhibition in Aldeburgh, Suffolk
    Coinciding with the first two weeks of Aldeburgh Festival this year, is an exhibition of new paintings by Kate Giles, with sculpture by Jack Wheeler, Beth Groom and the late Emily Mayer. They are joined by artists and makers who have a strong connection to East Anglia and its coastal landscape.
     
    BallroomArts; The Ballroom / Courtyard Gallery, Aldeburgh, Suffolk: 7 to 19 June 2022

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    The Granary Gallery: C&C's pop-up in Norwich
    We are looking forward to welcoming you to C&C's Open Weekend of our pop-up event on the second floor Granary Gallery, The Granary, Bedford Street, Norwich this weekend, from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 April (10.30am to 4.30pm). The artists and makers in our spring installation "It's All Happening Here" have been selected for a capsule collection:
  • The Granary Gallery, Norwich / C&C – Spring 2022

    Norwich's newest pop-up art space opens April 1
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    The Granary Gallery, Norwich / C&C – Spring 2022
    We are delighted to be establishing a new space for showing art and the handmade at The Granary Gallery, Bedford Street, Norwich on 1 April.  The new pop-up art gallery has been established in partnership with Jarrold, Norwich's flagship department store.

  • Studio visit: Carolyn Brookes-Davies

    Exploring sculptural potential of the natural and the handmade
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Studio visit: Carolyn Brookes-Davies
    We visited Carolyn Brookes-Davies recently in her studio in North Norfolk. Carolyn combines recycled paper, seashell, wood and metal to explore and create sculptural constructions of manipulated natural forms, constructing three dimensional objects by conscious sourcing, gathering, collecting and assembling her material.
  • Avant Gardeners

    New C&C exhibition will open 1 May 2022
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Avant Gardeners
    Our next exhibition Avant Gardeners will be in the Stables at Houghton Hall, from 1 May until 25 September 2022. It will celebrate the horticultural and cultivated landscape behind and beyond the garden wall.
  • New Raku book

    Contemporary Raku by Stephen Murfitt
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Contemporary Raku by Stephen Murfitt
    Contemporary Raku by Stephen Murfitt

    Stephen Murfitt has compiled a new publication on the Japanese ceramic firing technique - Raku.

    'The opportunity to put together this book for the Crowood Press became a welcome project and a creative focus away from the relentless depressing news on Covid during the lockdowns.'

    C&C will be including Cambridgeshire-based Stephen Murfitt's recent Raku fired pots in our pop-up exhibitions for the first time this year.

  • Making the most of what's fresh and new for '22

    New work arriving for our online store
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Making the most of what's fresh and new for '22

    In preparation for our 2022 events we have been making visits to a few new artists and makers we will be working with this year, discovering the many beautiful pieces in production that we will be available through our events planned for late spring and later during the summer.

  • Autumn Collection 2021

    Colin Self prints included among collection of art and the handmade from across East Anglia
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Autumn Collection 2021
    Autumn is upon us and I am listening to Marianne Faithfull and Warren Ellis' new album of orchestrated spoken poetry called "She Walks in Beauty" with sleeve and promo imagery provided by Norwich-based pop artist Colin Self. We are currently showing Colin's series of limited edition prints including some that feature on the album in our current pop-up exhibition at Houghton Hall.


  • Bank Holiday at Houghton Hall

    Houghton Hall Horse Trials final day
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Installation 28 May, foregrounding Kathryn Hearn's Flail & Lay Large Vessel 2, 2021
    Installation 28 May, foregrounding Kathryn Hearn's Flail & Lay Large Vessel 2, 2021
    We will be open this coming Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. Be sure to come and say hello when visiting the Tony Cragg sculpture exhibition, as well as the permanent collection, walled garden and the popular Houghton Horse Trials.
  • Rock Paper Scissors opens

    Art and objects produced with their making in mind
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Painting the gates at Houghton Hall by Elaine Pamphilon ©2021
    Painting the gates at Houghton Hall by Elaine Pamphilon ©2021
    We're opening the doors to our latest pop-up exhibition encompassing art and handmade objects fashioned with the process of their making in mind. We are welcoming visitors from Wednesday19th May, until September 26. Come and discover beautiful, dynamic and thought provoking works from more than 40 exhibitors.
    Visit the website for opening times and ticket prices to enter the Houghton Hall estate and to gain entry to the Tony Cragg sculpture exhibition:Houghton Hall Book Tickets
  • The sea, the limitless skies

    Sarah Paramor's amazing basketry comes to Norfolk
    The sea, the limitless skies
    Sarah Paramor is the first basket maker that C&C have invited to showcase her work as part of our look at the cultural sector on a national level. Sarah lives and works in Applecross, on the coast of West Scotland and has exhibited nationally and internationally and is a regular contributor to Craft Scotland. See more of her work this summer in Rock Paper Scissors in the Stables at Houghton Hall, running alongside the exhibition of sculpture by Tony Cragg in the house, gardens and park.
  • Spring Salon - #1

    Living with art and the handmade
    Spring Salon - #1
    We are publishing a series of images from collections we are currently putting together for clients. Here is the latest Spring Salon installation showing new work by Norwich based artists working with paper (Joni Smith and Ruth Howes) as well as Molly Thomson who creates these delicious constructed boards that sing with colour through her use of multiple layers of poured paint.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    C&C's next exhibition will be Rock Paper Scissors
    Contemporary and Country’s exhibition Rock, Paper, Scissors encompasses art and handmade objects fashioned with the process of their making in mind. It will run alongside the exhibition by Tony Cragg, opening at Houghton Hall, Norfolk on 19 May and closing 26 September, 2021. Tickets to enter the Houghton Hall Estate are on sale from 19 April (entrance to the Stables will be part of the entrance fee)
  • Spotlight: Katharina Klug

    Ceramic Alchemy
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Spotlight: Katharina Klug
    The hand-drawn lines on Katharina Klug's ceramics make the work lively, rough, immediate and unique and preserve the moment of mark- making. Inspiration comes from little snippets of observation in her environment. Lines are jumping out at her in almost anything – stripes on cloth, wires and cables, plants and grasses, architecture and streets to name a few.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Creative moves for 2021
    We are delighted to continue to work with a selection of established and new artists and makers in 2021. We are also working hard in reaching out to new creative talent from our area, east of England. Some are struggling to keep up their practice under the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions but many are working on creative expressions of hope.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Happy New Year
    Many thanks to all the artists and makers we have worked with over the past year. We also send our best wishes for a creative year ahead with all the challenges we face together. Happy New Year to our supporters for a prosperous and healthy 2021.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Supporting fundraiser for East Anglia Children's Hospice (EACH)
    Having supported East Anglia's Children's Hospices for a number of years for the Nook Campaign, through to on-site fundraising during our 2018 season at Houghton Hall, we are delighted now to have been able to help source artworks from artists' C&C work with to donate towards their next fundraising auction to be held in February / March 2021. More details will follow early 2021.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Hoping for a great Christmas and a creative 2021
    Very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all our friends, customers and those artists we've met and worked with over this past year. Join our mailing list and be the first to hear about our 2021 events or add something unique to your home from our Anglian Collection.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Revisit our recent pop-up's virtual walk-through
    Revisit our pop-up via our walk-through tour or view our "Anglian Collection" via our website - see link in bio. Pick up something to grace your home or delight a loved one this Christmas.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    New works arrive at our Houghton Hall pop up
    We are delighted to present more new work in our pop up at Houghton Hall. From beautiful design for the home with Katharina Klug's ceramic creations; to amazing handmade paper cut works by Ruth Howes; to breathtaking large photographic art by Gareth Hacon and new painted landscapes from Kate Giles. We are also pleased to have installed new sculptures by Jonathan Clarke.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Over 25,000 visitors and hundreds of sales later...
    As we expand our work with artists and makers from East Anglia we are entering the second half of our pop up event alongside Anish Kapoor at Houghton Hall, Norfolk - open until November 1.  At the time of writing there have been over 50,000 visitors on site and we have secured over 300 sales for local artists and makers. As works are purchased and taken away we are able to fill gaps to keep our exhibition fresh - making sure that any return visit will not disappoint!
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Putting paint to canvas
    The painters we are showing in A Fine Balance at Houghton Hall Stables, capture the splendor of the natural landscape; depict the beauty of coastal reaches; open fields, fens and woodland. Some work in an abstract style while others are more figurative in representing the landscapes they see and wish to convey.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Take a walk-through tour of our exhibition A Fine Balance
    We would love to see you in person to show you the works by local artists in A FINE BALANCE - running alongside the Anish Kapoor exhibition at Houghton Hall this summer. You can visit us online too… take a virtual tour of our exhibition with hot spots that link through to each artist on our online shop, so you can see each work that interests you in detail.
  • A creative life

    Heather Connor, textile artists and emboiderer
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    A creative life
    Heather Connor lives with learning difficulties that have made it impossible for her to find regular employment. To generate an income she has has been making these beautiful cushions since 2016 and been helped by her family and friends to sell them to build her own support network.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Changing our outlook towards the 'great outdoors'
    Read our latest e-newsletter about our hastily re-arranged season for online only exhibits. The selection of artists and makers in this edition have been preparing work for A FINE BALANCE for several months so we wanted to give you the opportunity to see this body of work and to support artists and makers during these newly compromised times.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Ceramic Highlights from Laura Huston
    We are delighted to be able to take orders for some unique ceramic pieces from North Norfolk based ceramic artist, Laura Huston. Take a look at her ceramics in our home collection .We are delighted to be able to take orders for some unique ceramic pieces from North Norfolk based ceramic artist, Laura Huston. Take a look at her ceramics in our home collection .

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Taking A Fine Balance online
    As some of you will already know, our showcase #finebalance will not open at Houghton Hall until this current health crisis has abated. However you can still support our artists by viewing and buying their work online to nurture the cultural talent across our region.

  • Home Sweet - our Home Collection 2020

    A look at makers creating beautiful solutions for contemporary living
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Home Sweet - our Home Collection 2020
    Our designer-makers create beautiful decorative furniture, soft furnishings and objects for the home using a diverse range of materials, often natural, associated with the eastern region. From basket weaving, seashells and furniture, to hand-turned wood and textiles.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    A Creative Weekend in Norwich
    Join us at Art Fair East - St Andrews Hall, Norwich. From 29 Nov to 1 Dec 2019 (PV on 28 Nov) See website for opening times and details of all the exhibitors we will be showcasing at this event. Drop an email via the website if you want to come to the Private View on Thursday 28 November (6pm-9pm)

  • Home is really where the art is...

    Selections from our collection of design for the home
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Home Design - sculpture by Gary Breeze
    Home Design - sculpture by Gary Breeze
    Each of the works for the home we are currently exhibiting in our pop up in the stables at Houghton Hall is unique and shows that in order to have something beautiful, handmade for the home you needn't necessarily spend a fortune.
  • Making a Day of it at Houghton Hall

    Whatever your mood, Michael Wood's sculptural works will bring a smile to your face
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Ceramics by Michael Woods
    Ceramics by Michael Woods
    These and more figurative ceramic pieces are a feature of our current pop up in the stables at Houghton Hall. As a sculptor, Suffolk-based Michael Wood's work is focused on the form and shape of the ancient pottery traditions, realised in a contemporary style using the ancient techniques of the hand built coil pot in stoneware, He works to achieve various textures and decorates with natural oxides, accentuated with contemporary glazes.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Collections
    Take a look at our "Collection Guides". If you have someone who is particularly difficult to buy for, a Norfolk by Design Gift Voucher may be the answer - our Gift Vouchers are redeemable online or at our forthcoming pop up events throughout 2019.

  • Mastering verre églomisé

    The art of Amanda Sutton
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Amanda Sutton
    Amanda Sutton is one of the artists we are showcasing in Ordinary Worlds, an exhibition of six women artists who share a common interest in representing landscape and interpreting the topographic in their work – each artist shows how we might compose landscape to suit our outlook rather than merely reflect upon a visual likeness or land use. Between them, what they depict is anything but ordinary.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Creating beautiful vessels using natural materials
    Our designer-makers create beautiful decorative furniture, soft furnishings and objects for the home using a diverse range of materials, often natural, associated with the eastern region. From seashells, hand-turned wood and ceramics, to wool, seaweed and glass. Here we are highlighting those among our exhibitors who create the most beautiful vessels for the home.

  • Introducing Tim Plunkett

    Using sustainable wood from Norfolk to create the beautiful and functional
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Tim Plunkett cutting boards
    Tim Plunkett cutting boards
    Have you seen the meticulous wood turning of Tim Plunkett lately? With a BSc in Environmental Science and involvement in direct action opposing the destruction of ancient forests and cultures, it is important to Tim that all his work is made from locally sourced wood. Entirely self taught through trial (and often painful error) he strives to produce elegant, functional pieces with graceful uncluttered lines, for the kitchen and table.

  • Meet Dan Meek

    Stonecarver
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Slate wall plaque by Dan Meek
    Dan Meek, is a Norfolk based stone carver and letter cutter and is acclaimed for his memorials, commemorative plaques and ground-breaking conceptual sculptures. We showcased Dan's work at our recent Pop-Up event at Houghton Hall where his work sold very well. He continues to produce sculptural pieces and we hope to be showing more of his work in upcoming events in 2018.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Home - a sculpture by Gary Breeze
    A number of artists, designers and craftspeople are joining with us to show their work as part of our Online Shop in the lead up to Christmas. We have makers producing innovative and beautiful lighting, textiles, glassware and paintings. There are many artworks and crafted items for all budgets.

  • Building up a house of shells

    Celebrating the work of Carolyn Brookes-Davies
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Large Shell box by Carolyn Brookes Davies
    Large Shell box by Carolyn Brookes Davies
    Shells with their accidental beauty, subtle colours, variety in shape and texture appealed to Carolyn Brookes Davies. Their endless ornamental possibilities have inspired her recent shell work we are showing during our pop up at Houghton Hall

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Toby Winteringham
    We are presenting Toby Winteringham's work here at Houghton Hall for the summer. We have a wonderful range of trays and magazine holders for sale as well as some more bespoke pieces, in particular a console table made of ancient Bog Oak from the Fenland area of North Norfolk.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Norfolk Line, Richard Long at Houghton Hall, 2017
    Norfolk Line by Richard Long at Houghton Hall, 2017
    Our next pop-up event opens in the Stables at Houghton Hall this spring and continues throughout the summer. We will be featuring a selection of Norfolk’s finest artists and craftspeople to coincide with a solo exhibition by renowned British artist Richard Long located within the gardens and park.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Into the Woods, December 2016
    Into the Woods, December 2016
    INTO THE WOODS
    2-4 December, 2016
     
    We are delighted to announce the dates for our forthcoming showcase of Norfolk’s finest artists, designer-makers and craftspeople. The exhibition is a pre-Christmas survey of work produced or sourced from Norfolk and the eastern region. Thank you to our sponsor, Norfolk Country Cottages.