In the wake of Chelsea Craft Fair - which this year featured three Hereford designer makers - Hereford's own Contemporary Craft Fair is fast upon us.

This year's fair is being held at the Courtyard from November 18-20 and will feature the creative talents of 55 craftspeople.

Now in its 12th year, this showcase gets better every time and is in many ways an equal to Chelsea.

It is a great place to shop, commission a piece or peruse for inspiration. The work is beautiful and original and you'll often get a chance to meet the maker.

One of the names to look out for this year is Lawrence Walker, a sculptor who works in forged and fabricated steel. Lawrence has recently designed and produced a range of benches for installation in Hereford's soon-to-be-unveiled revamped Eign Gate.

Two other artists to look out for are this year's joint winners of the New Exhibitor Award.

Claire Malet, who works in recycled and found metals, had a great show at Chelsea. Sharing the award with Claire is blacksmith Richard Hastings, who makes forged iron sculptural bowls.

Originally from Hampshire, Richard moved to Herefordshire to study at Herefordshire College of Technology and Holme Lacy College - "the best place in Europe to study blacksmithing".

He then spent some time working as a "journeyman" in Europe, benefiting from established blacksmiths' experience in return for assisting them.

"Every blacksmith has their own niche and it's useful to see how people are living and what works for them," Richard said.

Settling back in Herefordshire, Richard took a unit at a Kingstone trading estate, where he had room for the large hammers required to work the metal. The drawings and designs from his time spent travelling are what inspires his work today.

For Claire, the award comes on the back of a storming year. Several galleries picked up her work after the Herefordshire College of Art and Design summer show in 2004 and Chelsea Craft Fair has increased her order book.

It seems like her inspiration to use recycled materials - old beer and olive oil cans/copper cylinders - caught the crest of a national awareness of the earth's finite resources.

Fourteen years working as a community arts officer gave her a knack of working affordably.

A £2,000 grant from Creative Industries this spring gave her the springboard she needed to buy equipment she never thought she'd be able to afford.

She has also been shortlisted for the Reworked Award at Penarth's Oriel Washington Gallery and the New Exhibitor Award for Chelsea.

"It's the first time they didn't pick an outright winner," Claire said. "So I got an honorary mention at the awards ceremony." All of which comes as a great "confidence boost".

Her work has developed a lot in the last 12 months and an imminent move into her new workshop at her home in Bredenbury will no doubt give rise to bigger and bolder design.

Promoted by Herefordshire Council's Cultural Services as part of the Creative Industries Programme, the fair features on average 60% local makers.

With established names alongside up-and-coming talent, this year's exhibitors include Christine Meyer-Eaglestone's exquisite marquetry panels and boxes; Justine Allison's ultra-hip hand-built porcelain and Martin Andrews' exceptional range of sculptural glass.

For details, visit the online catalogue at www.craftfair.uk.com