The Bee and The Honeycomb – Curated by Wendy Ramshaw at Contemporary Applied Arts, London

The vulnerable, beautiful, industrious bee, is the inspiration of never-seen-before work from twenty seven of Britain's top designer/makers. ‘The Bee and The Honeycomb' at Contemporary Applied Arts in London is curated by Wendy Ramshaw CBE, critically acclaimed artist jeweller and designer.

The exhibition is a celebration of this iconic insect and a response to the threat of depleting bee populations. Native British bees are dying out — and with them will go flora and fauna. Many experts claim there may be less than a decade left to save bees from extinction. Ramshaw is passionate about their plight and is organising this exhibition to raise awareness, inspire and raise money (a percentage of sales from the exhibition will go to the British Bee Keeper's Association).

Ramshaw has invited a wide range of makers (all of whom are members of Contemporary Applied Arts) working in metal, glass, textiles, paper, wood and ceramics. Ramshaw herself is making a table from powder coated, mild steel – the top of the table has a open grid honeycomb pattern and suspended beneath it is a sheet of glass on which can be seen an image of a bee. Another jewellery designer, Zoe Arnold is also working in a much bigger scale than her usual work. She is creating a floor installation of porcelain bees, individually numbered and lit with an atmospheric floor lamp.

The process of pollination is explored by textile artist Ann Richards who is creating a collection of necklaces and bracelets in silk, steel, linen and paper. Richards' weaving technique will echo the honeycomb form. Jennie Moncur is weaving a colourful, contemporary still life using the pollinated peach tree from her own garden as the main subject.

Taking a more scientific approach, ceramicist Joanna Veevers is designing bees as specimens alongside her own sketchbooks full of detailed bee drawings. Cathy Miles who creates wire, drawing-like sculptures is exhibiting a wall installation of bees accompanied by a written guide outlining imaginary conversations going on in the hive, their worries, gripes and camaraderie.

Other artists like Rebecca Catterall, Julia Griffiths Jones and Vicki Ambery Smith are exploring the highly skilled construction skills of the bee and it's honey comb, architectural home. Contemporary basketmaker Dail Behennah will also focus on the combs by creating a ‘ghost' of a honeycomb which will cast a shadow more visible than the work itself.

Participating Makers:

Vicki Ambery-Smith - Jewellery Nick Membery - Ceramics Zoe Arnold - Jewellery

David Watkins - Jewellery Rupert Williamson - Furniture Natasha Kerr - Textiles

Laura Baxter - Jewellery John Ward - Ceramics Cathy Miles - Metal

Dail Behennah - Basketry Joanne Thompson - Jewellery Jennie Moncur - Textiles David Binns - Ceramics Michael Ruh - Glass Katy Hackney - Jewellery Michael Brennand-Wood - Textile Tracey Rowledge - Paper Grainne Morton - Jewellery Rebecca Catterall - Ceramics Ann Richards - Textiles Julia Griffiths-Jones - Metal Bob Crooks - Glalss Wendy Ramshaw – Furniture Cleo Mussi - Ceramics Sally Fawkes - Glass Ronal Pennell - Glass Sally Freshwater - Textiles