WHEN Sally Spreckley and her partner, Freer, took on The Globe Gallery in Hay-on-Wye five years ago, there was a large hole in the roof and dead pigeons among the old pews.
"I don't know what I was thinking of, with three young children!" Sally says.
A former United Reform Church, dating from about 1852, it took a creative vision to imagine what the building could be like. It has been a slow progress, with some funding being secured to renovate and restore the building to its original glory, but in September it opened as a permanent gallery, having been hired out during Hay Festival and at other times since 1999.
This month saw the gallery's first annual furniture exhibition, which gathered together 10 makers from the region.
They included Jane Smith - whose pieces are organically built from managed wood - Graham Lane and Brian Maiden - who craft top-of-the-range one off pieces to commission - and Ben Hills, who won last year's new exhibitor award at Hereford's Contemporary Craft Fair.
"I want the gallery to be a showcase for regional work," Sally says, and the inaugural exhibition was a great success, with good sales.
Several pieces of furniture were sold and three makers were commissioned to produce further work.
The next exhibition is a Christmas Craft Fair on November 29-30, featuring a variety of makers and designers.
Designers, makers or artists interested in exhibiting at the gallery should contact Sally, or manager Stewart Macindoe, on 01497 821191.
By julie harries
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