Two local artists were among craftspeople from all over Ireland exhibiting their work to international buyers at the Showcase creative expo in the RDS in Dublin in recent days.

The event, organised by the Crafts Council of Ireland, ran from Sunday last to Tuesday of this week.

Siobhain Steele from Rathcormac is a ceramic artist. The mother of two graduated from the Crawford College of Art and Design in June last year and promptly set up her own business, Siobhain Steel Ceramics, with a studio in Rathcormac.

Alan Horgan's furniture design business is also a fledgling one. His studio is in Conna. Alan makes the classic and contemporary furniture which his partner Dita Zavvelova helps to design.

They were two of the 19 craft businesses from Cork exhibiting at the show, considered in the industry to be one of the most important trade events for Ireland's craft sector. Supported by Cork County Council and City Enterprise Board, exhibitors in the Enterprise Zone at the event were aiming to break into new Irish and export markets this year.

Michael Hanley of North Cork Enterprise Board said there was a high calibre of craft businesses from throughout the region showcasing quality products at the event. "With the support of North Cork Enterprise Board the businesses have a valuable opportunity to exhibit their products," he pointed out.

The NCEB provided training in advance to support the businesses in targeting retailers in the domestic and overseas marketplace.

Alan Horgan told The Avondhu the experience was excellent. "We had a lot of great feedback. It's looking very good, we got a lot of potential orders," he said.

Siobhain Steele's experience of the event was equally good. "It was very positive. You're putting it out there. I'm delighted. It was a huge opportunity," she said.

Siobhain secured 11 orders from clients from Donegal to West Cork to The Bronx! There's further potential orders and she is hoping that other very positive feedback will result in orders down the line too.

Siobhain says her work is inspired by abstract line and pattern found in nature, particularly birch tree bark. She sees functionality as important and creates elegant but sturdy vases and lamp bases. She also likes to exploit the translucency of bone china in her delicate lighting fixtures.  She hand paints her pieces.

There'll be an opportunity to see Siobhain's work locally when she exhibits at the Fermoy Arts Festival on the first weekend in February.

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