I exhibited at Art Fair East in Norwich from the 1st–4th December 2022, and I can honestly say it was a fabulous weekend from start to finish.
Art Fair East showcases national and international artists, galleries and dealers in the spectacular setting of St Andrew’s Hall, right in the heart of the city. The quality of the art on display genuinely blew me away. The exhibition was beautifully and thoughtfully curated, with no two stands feeling the same. Rather than competing with one another, each artist and gallery felt distinct, which made the whole experience incredibly engaging for visitors.
The variety of work on show was exceptional, and the atmosphere throughout the fair felt vibrant and welcoming. The publicity for the event was also impressively strong — so much so that, despite the times we’re living in (hello cost of living crisis), there were moments when visitors were queuing out of the door to get in. Even better, there were plenty of people actively looking to buy art, which was really encouraging to see.
I was lucky enough to sell a good number of paintings over the course of the fair, as well as The Cube — the hand-painted table I was using to display my business cards and materials. I hadn’t fully thought through what I’d do without the table afterwards, but fellow artist Bella Bigsby came to the rescue thanks to an accidental over-order of tables. Artist camaraderie at its finest!
Some of the artwork I had on display included pieces from my Movement, Shape and Twists collections, which were really well received.
One of the biggest and most unexpected highlights was discovering that several people had come to the fair specifically to see my work. Not friends or family — but wonderful strangers who follow me on Instagram. I was genuinely surprised and hugely flattered. What a lovely compliment.
Every artist and gallery I encountered over the weekend was warm, welcoming and friendly. There was none of the stereotypical elitist “artist” atmosphere — just a shared love of creativity and making work. There really was something for everyone at the fair.
I honestly couldn’t have had a more positive experience of my first time exhibiting not only at Art Fair East, but in the East of England full stop. I loved it — and I very much hope to be back again next year.