London Event: RHS Chelsea Flower Show collection from Sophie Allport; A ban on garden gnomes at the Chelsea Flower Show is temporarily lifted

Widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious flower and garden show, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show returns to London from 19–23 May, marking the beginning of the UK’s summer social season. Organised annually by the Royal Horticultural Society, the event takes place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London and continues to attract global attention for its celebration of horticulture, garden design and British creativity.

Sophis Allport's RHS Chelsea Flower Show Mug
made from fine bone china.
Hand-decorated and finished in the UK.

Among the brands embracing the spirit of this year’s show is Sophie Allport, the British lifestyle and homewares company founded by illustrator Sophie Allport, who runs the family business alongside her brother, Jem. Known for creating timeless collections inspired by nature and the countryside, the brand has unveiled its Signature Edit from the official 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show collection.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show Edit – Classic
From Sophie Allport

The collection features a range of homeware and accessory pieces, including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Mug, Tea Towel, Tote Bag and Serving Tray. They showcase Sophie Allport’s hand-painted garden illustration, inspired by the tranquillity and creativity of a summer’s day.

A Limited edition RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 print  (Print size 12" x 16") is shown below.

The design depicts a serene pond with frogs beside a flourishing greenhouse, surrounded by hollyhocks, lupins and colourful cottage garden flowers. Bees and butterflies move among the blooms, while hares, hedgehogs and parakeets emerge from woodland greenery. With the Great Pavilion in the background, the design aims to capture the atmosphere and charm of the Chelsea Flower Show.

Over the decades the RHS Chelsea Flower Show became the premier showcase for new garden design, rare plants, and horticultural trends. The modern era of Chelsea increasingly emphasises environmental themes, biodiversity, sustainability, and accessible gardening. Many show gardens are now relocated after the event for community or charitable use.

The 2026 edition continues those trends, with gardens focused on wellbeing, sustainability, British-grown plants, and ecological design. It has also attracted attention for temporarily lifting the show’s long-standing ban on garden gnomes — a rule dating back to 1927.

A poster print of playful garden gnomes by Hanna Melin at Wallsauce.com.
Made in the UK, this print is available in a range of sizes and wooden frames. 

So for the second time in the history of the world’s most famous gardening event, the gnome ban at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is being lifted to raise funds for the RHS’ work with schools.  

Chelsea Gnomes 2026 online auction from May 15th - 24th
Photo from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show website.

 Celebrities including Sir Brian May, Dame Mary Berry and Cate Blanchett have decorated gnomes which will be on display at the 2026 Show and available to bid on, in an online auction that will run from Friday 15th to Sunday 24th May.

The funds raised will go towards the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, to help inspire the next generation of gardeners.  The RHS’ work with schools enables pupils to learn through gardening as well as boost their wellbeing, skills and environmental awareness.   

The initiative will be highlighted in The RHS and The King's Foundation Curious Garden, which aims to encourage visitors to embrace curiosity and enjoy gardening in a fun and accessible way. The inclusion of garden gnomes within the Curious Garden, as well as elsewhere across the showground, also pays tribute to a long-standing tradition at Highgrove Gardens, the private residence of King Charles III in Gloucestershire, where a gnome is frequently spotted among the features of the Stumpery.

To bid on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden Gnomes, click HERE. 

Exhibition: The Monkey Puzzle Tree Unveils Innovative Full-Colour Cork Wallpaper at Clerkenwell Design Week in London

British design house The Monkey Puzzle Tree is set to unveil a new full-colour cork wallpaper design, Up Hill Down Dale, at Clerkenwell Design Week (May 19 - 21, 2026) in London.

The new wallcovering marks a significant technical development for the Leeds-based company, which is traditionally known for embracing heritage craftsmanship and artisanal production methods. The design has been created using an innovative digital printing process capable of printing white and full colour directly onto real cork wallpaper

'Up Hill Down Dale' is the result of a collaboration between The Monkey Puzzel and Yorkshire artist Olivia Beau
who uses acrylic paints and found items such as old maps to depict
the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside where she grew up.

Created in collaboration with Yorkshire painter and multimedia artist Olivia Beau, the panoramic design celebrates the changing beauty of the English countryside throughout the seasons. The artwork depicts sheep sheltering on the moors as spring blossom gives way to snow, while the vivid greens of summer transition into autumnal tones beneath circling red kites. Graphic contour lines inspired by vintage maps add a bold visual layer to the large-scale composition.

According to the company, the design was created entirely without the use of artificial intelligence and instead relied on traditional artistic techniques combined with extensive experimentation and sampling.

The wallpaper is produced in England using a highly specialised printing technique on natural cork, with production limited to just three metres per hour. The wallcovering measures 130cm (51 inches) wide and is sold by the metre, with installation carried out using a paste-the-wall application method and standard pre-mixed wallpaper paste.

Company founder Charlotte Raffo said the printing process requires patience due to the delicate nature of the machinery involved.

“‘Walter’ the printer is a little temperamental and doesn’t like to be rushed, and it takes an hour to print just 3m of this wallpaper, but we think it’s worth the wait,” she said.

Raffo added that development of the design began more than a year ago, starting with hand-drawn concepts before inviting Beau to help realise the final artwork.

“Olivia uses acrylic paints and found pieces such as vintage maps in her work. I particularly love the graphic elements created by the map contours,” Raffo said. “With a natural background like real cork, it’s quite challenging to make the colours complement and stand out, so there have been weeks of behind-the-scenes work and sampling to get the design just right.”

The Monkey Puzzle Tree has previously received widespread recognition for its cork wallpaper collections, including the award-winning Hit The North, created in collaboration with graphic artist Drew Millward, known for his psychedelic poster artwork for bands including Foo Fighters and Arctic Monkeys. The design seen above, inspired by Northern industry and creativity, received the prestigious Design Guild Mark Award in 2021 for excellence and innovation in British design.

The company has also won accolades including Best in British Product Design at the Brit List Awards and several subsequent Design Guild Marks. Its cork wallpapers gained further national attention following appearances on the BBC Two interior design programme Your Home Made Perfect.

Based in Leeds, The Monkey Puzzle Tree is an independent British design studio known for its artist-led fabrics and wallpapers.

Images from The Monkey Puzzle Tree.

Congratulations: South Korean Artist Jongjin Park Wins 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize

South Korean artist Jongjin Park has won the 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize, with the announcement made on 12 May at National Gallery Singapore*.

Awarded annually by the Loewe Foundation, the prize recognises artists whose work demonstrates exceptional technical skill and creative vision, while shaping the contemporary craft landscape internationally.

Park’s latest body of work is currently on display during London Craft Week as part of Origin of Materials, an exhibition presented by Soluna Fine Craft for the International Pavilion of South Korea. The exhibition runs from 11 to 17 May at St George Street Gallery in Mayfair.

Click HERE for more details on Park's winning entry and the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.

Alongside this year’s winner, Origin of Materials brings together four alumni of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize in a curated presentation of collectible Korean craft. Among them is Dahye Jeong, whose practice centres on horsehair inspired by Korea’s historic millinery traditions for men. Using traditional Korean weaving techniques, Jeong transforms the material into intricate three-dimensional works.

The exhibition also features 2023 finalists Choi Keeryong, Kyouhong Lee and Woosun Cheon. Choi works with glass using inlaid colouring methods influenced by the Korean sanggam technique traditionally associated with celadon ceramics. Lee explores the physical limits of glassmaking through works informed by traditional Korean domestic objects, while Cheon creates vessel-like forms from metal wire, drawing inspiration from Korean ceramic jars.

The 2026 prize also highlights the continuing influence of London-linked artists within contemporary craft. This year’s finalists include Xanthe Somers and Jobe Burns, both of whom reflect different approaches emerging from UK-based practices.

Somers uses ceramics to investigate the emotional and political dimensions of domestic labour, incorporating postcolonial narratives and references to weaving and cloth-making traditions. Burns, meanwhile, works with industrial materials and production methods to examine the legacy of labour in the West Midlands, combining artisanal techniques with industrial processes.

Together, the finalists and exhibitors reflect the increasingly international outlook of contemporary craft, where traditional materials and methods continue to be reinterpreted through new ideas, technologies and cultural contexts.

*Singapore exhibition

The winning piece and works by all 30 finalists of the 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize are now on view at the National Gallery Singapore until June 14.  Address:  1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957

London Event: Thailand and Singapore Showcase Contemporary Asian Craft at London Craft Week 2026

London Craft Week 2026 (May 11 - 17 2026) will spotlight contemporary Asian craftsmanship. Two major showcases from Thailand and Singapore will celebrate the intersection of heritage, innovation and sustainable design.

The National Research Council of Thailand will present Woven Shade at Asia House (63 New Cavendish St, London W1G 7LP), an exhibition exploring the evolution of traditional Thai handicrafts into contemporary art and design. Rooted in the cultural heritage of Lamphun in northern Thailand, the showcase reinterprets bamboo weaving, Karen ethnic textiles and woodworking through modern artistic practice.  (63 New Cavendish St, London W1G 7LP

Image courtesy of Namfon Laistrooglai / National Research Council of Thailand

The exhibition introduces Thai woven hats within a broader international cultural context, examining the historical and social significance of hat-wearing traditions. Visitors will be able to view contemporary prototypes, attend live weaving demonstrations and participate in interactive workshops designed to provide direct engagement with traditional craft techniques.

Image courtesy of Namfon Laistrooglai / National Research Council of Thailand

Organisers said the initiative also aims to support artisan communities by expanding international visibility, strengthening global networks and encouraging younger generations to engage with traditional craftsmanship. The project positions Thai handicraft as a form of contemporary cultural capital capable of fostering innovation, sustainability and international dialogue.

The opening reception for Woven Shade will be presided over by His Excellency Ambassador Natthawat Krishnamra alongside the Director of the National Research Council of Thailand.

Curated by designer Namfon Laistrooglai and her team, the exhibition centres on handwoven bamboo hats and distinctive Karen textiles developed through extensive field research and collaboration with master artisans and community groups. Lamphun is home to more than 60 Karen villages, where weaving traditions continue to embody cultural identity and intergenerational knowledge.

By combining traditional textiles with refined bamboo hat-making techniques, the project transforms functional craft objects into contemporary design works and sculptural pieces. The exhibition also explores the interplay between Thai and British craft traditions through woven forms that manipulate light, shadow and texture.

Meanwhile, the National Heritage Board Singapore will present Future Craft, the inaugural International Pavilion Singapore at Battersea Power Station. The showcase marks Singapore’s debut participation in London Craft Week and highlights living craft traditions reimagined for contemporary audiences.

Image courtesy of National Heritage Board Singapore

Across twelve events, fifteen Singaporean makers will present their creative processes through exhibitions, live craft demonstrations, workshops and practitioner talks. The programme aims to give visitors insight not only into finished works but also into the ideas, materials and techniques behind them.

Image courtesy of National Heritage Board Singapore

Entitled Future Craft, the showcase examines how designers and craft practitioners reinterpret traditional methods while addressing themes of heritage, identity and sustainability. The exhibition forms part of the ongoing CraftxDesign initiative, first launched in Singapore in 2021, which pairs traditional craftspeople with contemporary designers to develop innovative and modern products.

Works from the CraftxDesign series will be displayed alongside projects exploring the role of craft within Singapore’s urban and multicultural society, reinforcing the growing international relevance of contemporary Asian craft practices.

London Event: Sotheby's hosts inaqugural Crafted in support of London Craft Week 2026

Sotheby’s is supporting London Craft Week with Crafted, a celebration of artists and makers working across a broad range of media. Curated by Sotheby’s specialists, the initiative aims to spotlight contemporary craft practice and deepen public engagement with the field in all its forms.

Cut Corners, 2026 by Cecilia Moore
Photo: Cecilia Moore/Cavaliero Finn

Among the exhibitors selected to participate in the inaugural Crafted: the Fair is Cavaliero Finn, one of a group of leading commercial galleries invited by Sotheby’s to showcase work by established and emerging makers. Featured artists will include Juliette Bigley, Isabel Fletcher, Mimi Young, Nicholas Lees, Richard McVetis, Alan Meredith, Cecilia Moore, Frances Priest, Sarah Purvey, Katharine Swailes, Annie Turner and Mizuyo Yamashita.

Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries host a curated programme of exhibitions and gallery showcases. All exhibitions run Monday 11 – Sunday 17 May.  

A highlight of the programme will be the FiredUp4 charity auction and the accompanying Secret Ceramics fixed-price sale, both hosted by Sotheby’s. The events will feature anonymously donated ceramic works and aim to raise funds for classes supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Buried dream, 2026 by Mimi Joung
Cavaliero Finn

Intoart will also unveil a major presentation of newly commissioned craft works alongside pieces drawn from its extensive collection. The organisation is recognised for championing learning disabled and autistic artists and designers as visible, equal and established practitioners within the contemporary arts sector, and is presenting Tékhnē, Craft Skill Knowledge, an exhibition that brings together eight artists from the Peckham-based collective.

Still Life (after Morandi) 17 piece set 3, 2026 by Mizuyo Yamashita
Cavaliero Finn

Shortlisted entries for House & Garden’s inaugural craft prize will also go on display.  The House & Garden Craft Prize champions investment-level work that unites ancestral skill with innovation and cultural relevance. 

Others on show includes Aiveen Daly a leading innovator in contemporary textile artistry, recognised for a meticulous couture approach that bridges the gap between heritage craft and fine art. 

While Oxford Ceramics Gallery presents works by leading contemporary ceramicists, O'Connell Gallery Presents Lustre Ceramics by Mark Campden, a selection of new and recent lustre ceramics by Mark Campden, demonstrating his mastery of the 'Reduced-Pigment Lustre' technique. 

London-based contemporary gallery Ruup & Form is championing artists working at the intersection of art, craft and design. And Vessel Gallery presents Vessel Vignettes, a curated selection of still life compositions of exceptional crafts in glass and ceramics by British and international museum-quality artists. 

The public programme will feature demonstrations by master framers, needleworkers and conservators, alongside a series of talks and workshops taking place across the London Craft Week Symposium on 13 May and Sotheby’s own Festival of Craft on 16 May.   

London Craft Week 2026 (11-17 May) offers a city-wide programme of exhibitions to discover artisanal excellence from established and emerging makers

For full details and programme of London Craft Week, click HERE.

London Event: Decorative Fair Spring Edition to Celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 160th Anniversary with Special Mr. McGregor Display

As Britain prepares to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the birth of beloved author, illustrator and conservationist Beatrix Potter, a summer-long programme of exhibitions, public art installations and heritage events will honour the enduring legacy of one of the nation’s most cherished literary figures.

Artwork panel from Fromental's Peter Rabbit™ collection will be featured at the Decorative Fair Spring Edition
from May 12 - 17 2026.

Born on 28 July 1866, Potter remains internationally renowned for her charming “Little Tales”, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Two Bad Mice. Between 1902 and 1930, she wrote and illustrated 23 original stories celebrated for their detailed observation of the natural world and whimsical anthropomorphic storytelling.

Across the UK throughout summer 2026, organisations and cultural institutions are planning special anniversary events. In the Lake District, celebrations will focus on Potter’s role not only as an author but also as a pioneering conservationist whose work helped preserve much of the region’s landscape.

The National Trust is placing particular emphasis on Hill Top, Potter’s former home in Near Sawrey, where visitors will be able to view a special display featuring the original dollhouse furniture that inspired scenes in The Tale of Two Bad Mice.

Meanwhile, in north-east England, a large-scale public art trail featuring uniquely decorated Peter Rabbit sculptures will run across Newcastle and North Tyneside from 15 July to 14 September 2026. Retailers are also expected to mark the milestone with commemorative merchandise and limited-edition 160th anniversary collections.

One of the most distinctive tributes will form part of the Spring edition of the Decorative Fair Spring Edition 2026, returning to Battersea Park, London, from 12 to 17 May 2026.

Organisers have announced a specially commissioned foyer installation imagining “the perfect potting shed” for Mr. McGregor, the famously irascible gardener from Potter’s stories. The nostalgic display will combine antique garden pieces, vernacular furniture and country-house styling in a collaboration between Fromental and dealer Gilbert Bannerman, descendant of noted garden designers Isabel and Julian Bannerman.

All items featured in the installation will be sourced from exhibitors at the fair and offered for sale. Fromental, celebrated for its hand-painted wallcoverings, will contribute two artwork panels from its Peter Rabbit™ collection to complete the display.

Jenna Burlingham Gallery

Alongside the Beatrix Potter tribute, the Decorative Fair will showcase a broad range of antiques, twentieth-century design, art and decorative objects. New exhibitors this spring include Dodo-Lamberty, specialising in twentieth-century design and Street Art; Modern World Ltd; and Shackleton Fox, known for antique lighting and decorative pieces.

Made in Italy

Returning exhibitors include Antique B•R, Flora Black and Callaghan Fine Art, while recent newcomers attracting attention include Maud Vaughan, Frank Story Ltd, Judith van Helden Fine Art and Punch the Clock, noted for rare examples of twentieth-century decorative arts.

Garden antiques are expected to feature prominently throughout the fair, with dealers offering stone and metal furniture, planters, urns, statuary and decorative garden objects. Visitors will also find a strong selection of vernacular furniture and traditional treen — small handcrafted wooden domestic objects whose name derives from the Old English term meaning “of the tree”.

Organisers say the event will continue its longstanding tradition of bringing together exceptional dealers recognised for sourcing unusual and distinctive pieces, while the Beatrix Potter anniversary display is expected to provide one of the fair’s major highlights.

Images courtesy of Decorative Fair Spring Edition

London Festival: Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 to mark 15th anniversary with major new installations and expanded programme - 19 – 21 May 2026

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) will return to London’s EC1 district from 19 to 21 May 2026, celebrating its 15th anniversary with an expanded line-up of international exhibitors, new venues and a flagship series of large-scale installations.

Clerkenwell is a vibrant district located in the borough of Islington in London. It holds a rich history and is significant to the creative industries with its concentration of design showrooms, studios, and galleries. 

Organisers have announced the launch of Design Interventions, a curated programme of immersive structures created by both emerging and established designers and architects. Selected from an open call, the installations will be placed in Clerkenwell’s streets, parks and public spaces, encouraging interaction and dialogue around materials, architecture and the built environment.

Fountain of Technicolour Beads by One Bite Design

Among the highlights is Fountain of Technicolour Beads by Hong Kong-based studio One Bite Design. The terrazzo installation explores colour vision deficiency through an interactive spatial experience. Nearby, The Crinkle-Crankle Bench by StudioFolk will be installed beside St James’s Church, offering sculptural seating crafted from natural stone.

The festival will also showcase an expanded international presence, with design collections from six European countries — Spain, Italy, Norway, Germany, Austria and the UK — making the 2026 edition the most globally diverse in the event’s history.

A further key feature is the enlarged CDW Awards, presented in partnership with Design Milk. The awards will recognise not only new products and innovations but also individuals and teams driving change within the design sector. The ceremony will take place at Haberdashers’ Hall, a new venue for 2026, which will host The Luxury Edit, a showcase of high-end design brands and a talks programme titled Design Meets.

The Pulse of Becoming will animate the space outside The Luxury Edit.

Additional installations include The Pulse of Becoming, a living outdoor work created by recent graduates based in Portsmouth, UK. Incorporating chia seeds embedded within crescent forms, the piece will evolve over the course of the festival to reflect themes of growth, decay and renewal.

Historic venues will once again play a central role. The Museum of the Order of St John will host a contemporary Spanish design exhibition, while St Bartholomew the Great will become the “Church of Design”, featuring a talks programme curated by Katie Richardson and sponsored by Dulux. The church will also house a suspended installation, CONFLUENCE, inspired by origami.

Elsewhere, the House of Detention will present a lighting exhibition, with visitors welcomed by Loom Light, a 3D-printed sculpture influenced by Op Art.

Resonance by
Fung+Bedford 

The 2026 programme introduces several new venues, including Material Source Studio and Workplace on the Square, alongside returning locations such as Old Sessions House, The Charterhouse and The Goldsmiths’ Centre. Exhibitions will span furniture, lighting, textiles, surfaces and product design, with confirmed participants including leading international brands and studios.

A new digital app will replace printed guides, enabling visitors to plan personalised itineraries and navigate the festival more efficiently. Attendees will also have access to guided tours, workshops and offers from local hospitality partners.

Organisers expect tens of thousands of visitors from the UK and abroad to attend the three-day event.

One of the many Design Interventions selected for this year will be on Clerkenwell Green. 

The Museum of the Order of St John above St John’s Gate (originally built in 1504) - one of the great hidden historical treasures of London - is another new venue for the festival. The atmospheric space, steeped in history, will be the temporary home to INTERIORS FROM SPAIN for contemporary Spanish design produced by London-based design journal Disegno.

Material Source Studio, which showcases products and materials for architects, interior designers and

property professionals, and Workplace on the Square outside The Zetter hotel, a platform for design

brands catering to offices, are two new additions to CDW’s wide range of venues for 2026. Office design brands will also be exhibiting at Workplace at Goldsmiths’ at The Goldsmiths’ Centre which returns as a festival venue this year.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 takes place across EC1, London, from 19 – 21 May. For more information, please visit clerkenwelldesignweek.com – registration is now open.

St Bartholomew the Great, one of London's most ancient and atmospheric churches once again becomes the Church of Design, this year’s venue for the coveted Conversations at Clerkenwell programme curated by PR and Brand Consultant Katie Richardson, which will include discussions with leading and emerging designers on topical subjects.  Design studio Fung+Bedford will present Resonance, a luminous, large-scale installation suspended within the nave of St Bartholomew the Great.

Dulux, sponsor for Conversations at Clerkenwell, is launching a student-focused competition to design the backdrop of the talks stage using a palette of on-trend colours.

Roche Bobois, DEDON and MAGIS Spa are among the many leading international brands exhibiting at

the Church of Design, and CONFLUENCE, a monumental origami-inspired installation by Fung+Bedford, will be suspended from the ceiling of the 900-year-old Grade I listed medieval church.

The House of Detention returns as the host of Light, showcasing a selection of exciting local and global lighting brands. Visitors will be greeted at the entrance with Loom Light, a 3D-printed light sculpture drawing on the optical language of Op Art, designed by MIMStudios, AI Build and SEAM Design. 

“We’re thrilled to be back in Clerkenwell this May with our new Design Interventions initiative which acts as a creative platform for the incredible talent and imagination of the participating architects and designers,” says Marlon Cera-Marle, Design Division Director at Media 10, the organiser of the annual design festival. 

“These thought-provoking installations are set to bring a new interactive dimension to

the show. We’re looking forward to another successful year welcoming tens of thousands of people from the UK and abroad to EC1 to discover the latest that global design has to offer.”

Across all venues, CDW will feature hundreds of design brands, showcasing furniture, lighting, textiles,

surfaces, home accessories and product design. Confirmed exhibitors include String Furniture, Moroso,

Swedese, Dornbracht and Vincent Sheppard. Collections from Austria, Denmark and Italy will also

return.

Visitors should note that a new state-of-the-art app replaces the printed, paper guide and tickets in 2026. The CDW app will be helping them to tailor their visit and navigate the venues, exhibitors, participating showrooms and much more according to their specific interests.

Festival-goers can also enjoy exclusive discounts and offerings from local food and drink partners.

Architects and interior designers will have the opportunity to join guided specialist tours covering topics

ranging from sustainability to emerging design talent and more.

Images from Clerkenwell Design Week website.