Craft Scotland at Collect 2024, Somerset House

Collect 2024, currently on display at Somerset House, marks the 20th anniversary of what's become the leading international fair for crafts and design, and is surely a paradise for serious collectors of expertly crafted objects d'art.

Being easily confused by super-abundance – upwards of 40 exhibitors are represented in a succession of small rooms either side of a long corridor – I opted to concentrate on one single exhibitor, Craft Scotland, which brought to London the works of 12 of the best crafts makers living and working in Scotland under the umbrella title Close to Hand.

The title reflects the intimacy between the makers and their materials, whether working in jewellery, ceramic, sculpture or textiles, in many cases drawing directly from Scotland's landscapes, colours and physical environment. Together the works on display give the room a welcoming air of serene self-assurance; individually, each piece catches the eye for one reason or another: some for their originality, others because you instantly covet them.

So, I stopped for a long time in front of to Katie Charleson's attractive and original wall hangings.


Craft Scotland, Collect 2024, Katie Charleson. Poto: Usama Diaz Jassar
The Edinburgh-based Charleson uses the processes of printmaking and quilting to create hangings that feel no longer bi-dimensional, but rather sculptural. They appear to reach out to you, exuding a warm sensual feeling, as if asking to be touched.

A necklace by jeweller Heather McDermott, an as light as air intricate interweaving of stainless steel, 18 ct gold and silver, definitely figured among the very covetable objects on show.

More than anything else, though, I was fascinated by Emma Louise Wilson's Light Reflected, a set of seven small bowls, all in different sizes, made of silver and decorated with vitreous enamel with gold wire inlay. Like pebbles on the shore, each bowl is unique but they all evoke memories of the sea.


Craft Scotland, Collect 2024. Emma Wilson. Photo: Emma-Wilson
I found it difficult to drag myself away from these delicate, yet so powerful little reflections of light and sea.

I singled out these pieces not because they are the best in what is a very strong display – choosing 'the best' would be impossible – but because for some reason they spoke directly to me; other visitors, and indeed collectors, will each have their own personal connection with the objects on show. For all the relevant information click here