While Christmas shopping can be stressful, Harbour House is providing an alternative, where you can see gift ideas from ten local artists.

Harbour House Gallery is currently hosting Present Maker Exhibition which features the work of ten local artists, all of whom have been creating pieces during the last twelve months with Christmas gifts in mind.

The eclectic mix of work includes sculpture, mixed media, textiles, screen prints, ceramics, mosaics, pewter ware, and silver jewellery as well as the more traditional water colour, oil and acrylic paintings.

Helen has created ’story pictures’ with pebbles and flotsam from the beach, and wreaths - some made from wool and fabrics, others from old music scores, books and even old schools Atlas pages.

Charlotte is displaying a range of beautifully designed handmade sterling silver jewellery inspired by the environment.

Christine also creates silver jewellery using both silversmith techniques and by knitting fine silver wire to make bangles and necklaces. She incorporates crystals, gemstones and locally hand-made glass beads into her designs.

Amongst a vibrant range of fairground themed original silk screenprints and collographs, Teresa is showcasing a new range of boxed porcelain angels to dress Christmas trees or to use as wall hangings.

The angels are individually crafted and would be great for people who like quirky or unusual art work in their homes.

Caroline sells little handmade books with calligraphy and linocut illustrations. Also unframed, original prints of local scenes and wildlife in a range of prices. Both are ideal to send as presents in the post.

Sandy makes ’heirlooms of the future’. Individually crafted items made with lead-free, English pewter. Bowls, jewellery, and games, including noughts and crosses, and draughts. Certainly one or two options for the difficult men in your life!

Jane is a Mosaicist and her strap-line is Love it and Use it. She makes useable objects from broken china and glass tesserae, including tree decorations, clocks, bowls, doorstops and Lazy Susans.

Amanda’s paintings celebrate the natural world. She usually works with oil paints on gold leaf which means the paintings will glow in a dark corner, or will shine when lit by natural light or fire light; so, perfect for Christmas!

Anna will be presenting her latest work in wildlife sketches and cards. Small originals, framed and unframed, as well as some prints. Plus some gift-boxes of printed items, ideal as a stocking filler.

Sally creates landscape and abstract paintings and collages, hand-stitched textile pictures, embroidered and embellished fabric brooches and earrings made from decorated and recycled papers. Suitable for a favourite great aunt, a difficult teenager and everyone in between!

You would not find a more varied, inspired, unique and reasonably priced collection of possible gifts anywhere in the world, and here they are on your doorstep!

Present Maker is open from 10am-5pm everyday except Sunday when it opens 11-3, until December Sunday, December 17. Come along to Harbour House and see for yourself.

Featured artists: Christine East, Caroline Barker, Sandy Litchfiield, Teresa Barlow, Amanda Brooks, Jane Mahood, Sally Tapsell Hall, Charlotte Dalrymple Hay, Helen Curtis, and Anna Ventura.