SEE the very best of arts and crafts in the county with an exhibition in Bridport.

Following the success of the publication Fifty Dorset Makers and this summer’s two-day event at Wolfeton Riding House, Dorset Visual Arts in association with Bridport Arts Centre brings you a collection of work from the best of Dorset’s Designer Makers this Christmas!

The Allsop Gallery at Bridport Arts Centre will be filled with unique items including jewellery, textiles, glassware, ceramics and much more, with a range of prices to suit all pockets.

As part of this special exhibition there will be a Meet the Makers Event tomorrow from 1.30pm to 3pm.

This will be an exciting opportunity to meet these talented makers who can tell you more about their craft. There will be festive nibbles too!

Organisers say it will be a lovely way to spend an afternoon looking for interesting gifts for loved ones.

Suzy Rushbrook of Dorset Visual Arts said: "The exhibition at Wolfeton Riding House was very well received with a huge audience coming to see work of this standard.

"There was a fantastic buzz with many of the makers on hand to talk about their work. We hope that the Making Dorset Winter Show will create a similar atmosphere! I can't wait to set up, it is such a treat to see so much fabulous work in one great space."

A feature of the exhibition will be a very special John Makepeace table, which the well known and established furniture maker is very donating to Bridport Arts Centre and Dorset Visual Arts.

The unique carved lime-wood piece is going to put up for silent auction, with a reserve of £1,000. People can bid during the exhibition and the highest bidder will be notified at the end.

Arts centre dierctor Laura Cockett said: "We are overwhelmed with this kind and generous offer from John. We are very fortunate to have such a talented designer maker on our doorstep, who is so supportive of what we do here. I can't wait to see it in the Allsop Gallery as the centre piece of this exhibition."

Making Dorset aims to develop a network of Dorset’s best designer makers – many of whom have important national reputations. This is fantastic opportunity to see world-class making in one of Dorset's largest public gallery spaces.

Bridport Arts Centre and Dorset Visual Arts look forward to warmly welcoming you during the festive season.

*Making Dorset, Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre, continuing until Wednesday December 20. The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm.