Ashdown Forest is the home of many talented artists and craftspeople. Local writer Neil del Strother reports that for the first time they are working together to promote their work

The inaugural Forest Row Artists’ fair has been a runaway success. More than 1000 people – buyers, art critics and the media (local and national) – attended the fair over the past weekend and enjoyed, and bought, the work of more than 30 local artists and craftspeople.

“The village hall was buzzing all weekend, it was very exciting. People came from all over the south-east to see what our artists have to offer,” says Cathie Hubert artist and co-ordinator of the Forest Row Artists First Fair..

Forest Row and its surrounding area is, of course, overflowing with highly-talented artists of all types and nationalities. You can’t throw a stick without hitting at least one top class painter, craftsperson, sculptor, poet, writer, musician, photographer, actor or storyteller. It’s a very special and creative place.

It’s not easy to mobilise all this talent. Organising very-individual artists into an active, cohesive and effective group is a notoriously difficult challenge – like herding cats times two.

So perhaps it’s no surprise that this weekend’s fair was the first time that all the local artists and craftspeople have worked together in this way. But it certainly won’t be the last; the new Forest Row Artists’ group has already scheduled another larger (there’s a substantial waiting list of artists already) fair for February, and a fine art exhibition for the Spring.

And all this in just a month! The group, which was initiated by storyteller and glass artist Pupak Haghighi-Brinch, joined by French-dynamo and Findhorn survivor (and painter) Cathie Hubert, only had its first meeting in late October.

“We set up the group to support Forest Row as a transition village and to make it possible for our artists to exchange ideas and skills, support each other and come together to promote our work as widely as possible, “says Pupak.

The enthusiastic support of local artists for the new group has overcome its initial financial constraints. “For this first event we’ve been working with a minuscule budget, but with so much talent, passion and creativity at our disposal this has hardly been a hurdle at all,” says Cathie.

The group is open to anyone who lives in the local area and who creates with their hands. All are welcome, from established painters, sculptors and craftspeople to people who simply love to create and make things

Pupak Haghighi-Brinch emphasises that the group is very much made up of individuals. “The group is absolutely not about losing this individuality; rather it is about celebrating it, sharing it and finding joy and inspiration in each other's company and creativity,” she says.

Oh yes, and it’s also about helping our local artists to make a healthy and sustained living from their art.

To learn more about the artists’ group and perhaps join it, contact Cathie Hubert: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To order Neil del Strother’s new book, The Flower in the Desert, visit www.theflowerinthedesert.com