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Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm

designermakers21

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designermakers21

designermakers21 is home to a group of local extraordinary designers and crafts people. Come and bro

This unique project enables talented designers to work together in an inspiring environment, and also opens to the public to showcase their work. Come in and see where the creativity happens and buy something unique and special from the makers themselves.

06/06/2026

What a fantastic afternoon celebrating the wonderful work of four students! Great to see so many visitors enjoying this inspiring exhibition. Congratulations to Issy, Luke, Zakhar and Amber - your dedication to developing skills in creative processes really shine through in your work! designermakersCIO are thrilled to be able to host this brilliant showcase.

The ‘Student Exhibition’ continues until 13th June, so if you couldn’t make it today, pop in next Thurs, Friday or Saturday, 10am-5pm.

05/06/2026

Maker’s Spotlight!

This Saturday 6th June, come and meet member Annette Rolston in the studio!

A member of designermakers21 since the studios were founded 13yrs ago, Annette specialises in printmaking and painting, and is an all round lovely person! Annette creates a beautiful range of prints, paintings and lanterns with imagery inspired by nature, symbols and the Earth Mother.

Alongside this, Annette works in collaboration with Mike Fenton, to produce a range of lampshades, with imagery celebrating nature, animals and plants with a strong influence from their rural Norfolk surroundings.

Annette runs a range of workshops in print and lamp-making, and is a very inspiring teacher!

Come and chat with Annette, find out more, and see a range of work for sale in the galleries here at designermakers21 in Diss. We’re open 10am-5pm.

📍designermakers21, St Nicholas Street, Diss, IP22 4LB

04/06/2026

The ‘Student Exhibition’ is open, and it looks fantastic. Such a brilliant range of work by four very talented young artists - not to be missed!

Come along to visit the show here at designermakers21, in Diss, until 13th June, open Thurs to Saturday 10am-5pm, and join us to celebrate the exhibition on Saturday 6th June 2-5pm.

Work on display is made using a wide variety of materials and processes including copper, cast bronze, wax modelling, textiles, ceramics, painting and woodworking. Much of the work was made during workshops here at designermakers21, and is a joyful celebration of creativity, process and experimentation.

03/06/2026

designermakers21 warmly invite you to the second ‘Incubator’ exhibition, celebrating the work of our April-June cohort of Incubator Studio Residency graduates. The exhibition opens on Thursday 18th June and runs until Saturday 20th, open 10am-5pm each day.

We are extremely proud of the three talented artists! Join us for the preview evening on Friday 19th June, 5:30-7:30pm. You can meet Steph, Harmony and Poppy, and have a chat about their work, processes and ideas.

Harmony Shaw
“I’ve always felt a strong connection to nature, which remains at the core of my work. I’m particularly drawn to forests and woodlands, and to the presence of trees. I like to observe their textures, movement, and quiet mystical presence, a feeling I try to capture within my paintings.”

Steph Baker
Steph Baker is a Norfolk-based abstract artist working across landscape and contemporary painting. Her work is defined by bold colour, strong composition and layered texture, creating pieces with real presence and impact.

Poppy Jackson makes work that explores the female body as an autonomous zone. Jackson’s practice spans live performance, painting, sculpture and printmaking, and often focuses on public space and architecture in relation to the body. Poppy is involved in developing CONVERGE: a performance art and Live Art platform providing connection and exchange between artists working with the body across Norfolk and Suffolk

The Incubator Studio Residencies are sponsored and funded by the with additional funding by the Diss Arts Society

02/06/2026

Take a look at the work of three of our fantastic associate members.

Jon Higham; Since 2016 Jon has developed a successful series of architectural and landscape prints of iconic subjects on the South Coast. Now newly relocated to the Norfolk/Suffolk border Jon is developing new work based on the area, both photographically and in painting and illustration.

David Butler; David Butler uses Blacksmithing techniques to create his forged metalwork. The collection includes functional work such as candlestick holders, and hearthside companion sets alongside lamps and sculptural pieces.

Glow Worm Glass -Nessa Dalglish; She works in leaded glass, focusing on traditional kiln-fired stained glass painting methods. These methods have been used for hundreds of years to create stained glass art and involves firing layers of paint on top of each other to create stunning images.

Nessa’s delicate and intricate paintings depict the nature she sees around her, sometimes with a modern and humorous twist and sometimes just with a passionate eye for detail and a love of wildlife.

You can find their work throughout our galleries on the ground floor at designermakers21, in Diss.

We are open Thursdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm

30/05/2026

Still time to book a place on this Collage workshop with the fabulous Melodie Cook on Saturday 6th June 10am-1pm.

Perfect for any level of experience, spend a relaxing few hours creating your collages using various papers and materials to create textured, patterned surfaces on which to apply our collaged drawings. An exciting and fun workshop.

BOOKINGS

To book your place please email [email protected]

Workshop Cost: £40 per person

What is Provided?
All materials including all subject matter for still life,tea/coffee.

What to Bring…
Apron or Overshirt if preferred.Water bottle/snack

📍designermakers21, St Nicholas Street, Diss, IP31 2SB

28/05/2026

Maker Spotlight!

This Saturday, come and meet member David Whatley in his studio here at designermakers21.

David’s studio is a treasure trove of tools, materials and wonderful artworks, gathered and made over many years. With an amazing wealth of knowledge of metal, wood and clay, David is always happy to share fascinating insights into his processes.

You can find a selection of David’s work for sale in the galleries, and spot some wonderful pieces outside in the courtyard.

Pop by on Saturday to discover more, we are open 10am-5pm here in Diss!

27/05/2026

Meet our Fixed Term Residency artists!

If you’ve not met these fab five already, pop by any Thursday to Saturday, 10am-5pm for a chat, to see work in progress, and finished work for sale. Half way through their current residencies, we love the dynamic and welcoming spaces they have all created in their studios- full of ideas and experimentation.

Caryn Louis
Caryn is a figurative ceramic and mixed media artist. She explores personal and social issues using expression, gesture, surface and colour to tell stories that she finds an emotional connection to.

Shelby Redfern
Shelby is an illustrator and ceramicist interested in diverting the mainstream and celebrating the unusual. She is heavily inspired by punk/alt music, retro objects, traditional tattoo art, folklore and the supernatural.

Harmony Shaw
“I’ve always felt a strong connection to nature, which remains at the core of my work. I’m particularly drawn to forests and woodlands, and to the presence of trees. I like to observe their textures, movement, and quiet mystical presence, a feeling I try to capture within my paintings.”

Poppy Jackson
“I make work that explores the female body as an autonomous zone. My practice spans painting, printmaking, sculpture, wearable art and live performance. Public space and architecture in relation to the body are key themes. I also founded CONVERGE – a platform for performance artists based in this region” photo by talented young photographer Elora Jackson-Lane

Steph Baker
Steph Baker is a Norfolk-based abstract artist working across landscape and contemporary painting. Her work is defined by bold colour, strong composition and layered texture, creating pieces with real presence and impact.

Our Fixed Term Residencies are a brilliant opportunity for a 3 month studio space here at designermakers21. If you’re an artist/maker interested in applying head to our website and the ‘Get Involved’ page.

The Incubator Fixed Term Residency programme is generously supported by with additional funding from the Arts Society, Diss.

23/05/2026

Reasons to visit Diss are many.
Diss Mere is a beautiful body of water, an extensive park to one side, a boarded walkway and a refreshing fountain near the middle.
A walk up Mere Street takes you to Diss Heritage Triangle where you can find a selection of fabulous independent, high quality arts and crafts venues.
No8Marketplace houses independent businesses, a cafe and a good selection of crafts.
Diss Museum holds some fascinating history of Diss and surroundings.
In the lanes you will discover specialist food shops Fredricks Fine Foods, Natural Foodstore Cooperative and Amandines Café Restaurant (I would come to Diss just for their 'ginger cordial!') and more lovely craft.
Further up towards St Nicholas Street you can enjoy Diss Deli & Coffee Shop before you come to Albright of Diss, a fantastic haberdasher and more!
Opposite you can discover all that The Corn Hall has to offer with cafe, exhibitions and more.
But, opposite the Corn Hall You will find us! designermakers21.
You can browse all of our galleries, book workshops, view work by over thirty makers, across a huge variety of disciplines. But, best of all, you can actually enjoy talking with crafters in their studios. Ask questions, understand their processes and leave with a greater appreciation for the joys of hand built art.

We are open Thursdays-Saturdays 10-5pm and we would love to welcome you.

22/05/2026

We have an exciting workshop coming up on Friday 19th June. Join Harmony Shaw and learn how to create your own watercolours!

A hands-on workshop exploring colour, earth & creativity. Learn how to grind pigments from natural sources such as stones, shells, clay and ash. Mix your own paints and create a handmade watercolour set inspired by our local landscape. Paint, and test out your creations.

Beginner friendly, all materials provided.

To book your place please email [email protected]

Workshop Cost: £55 per person

6 places available

Harmony is currently undertaking a studio residency here at designermakers21 , so pop in and say hi to find out more about this fab workshop!

📍designermakers21, St Nicholas Street, Diss, IP22 4LB
📆 Friday 19th June, 11:30am-2pm

Address

21 St Nicholas Street
Diss
IP224LB

Opening Hours

Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441379640764

Website

http://www.designermakers21.co.uk/

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