You are here > Things to Do > Activities > Arts & Crafts
Arts & Crafts
To balance the outdoor activities or during inclement weather, you may wish to spend some time indoors. Falkland Islanders pursue many hobbies with arts and crafts as popular pastimes.
Skills workshops
Algernon Asprey painted tiny, colourful settlements beneath huge skies. Falklands’ artists continue to capture these magnificent views. Changing light conditions, rugged mountains and spectacular shorelines provide inspiration along with everyday farming life and the incredible wildlife. Occasional art workshops are held in the Islands. Artists can bring their own materials, or buy supplies in Stanley, to create their own landscapes or portraits of the flora and fauna.
Visitors interested in wool-crafts are easily catered for. Try your hand at spinning or weaving the local wool at the Spinners and Weavers Guild in Stanley. The Guild meets on Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons and welcomes visitors, with advance planning. Other workshops are held from time to time, including felting and dyeing, usually in Stanley or at Darwin House. The Guild also display their skills at events such as the Craft Fair which is held every September in Stanley. The Rookery at Dunnose Head, West Falkland, is home to a beautiful purpose-built studio overlooking the sea where Rosemary Wilkinson welcomes day visitors, by prior arrangement, to experiment with embellishing machines.
Falklands' handicrafts
The annual Craft Fair provides the best opportunity for all local artists and crafters to display their creations. Islanders of all ages contribute spun wool, knitted, crotched and felted items, woodwork, hornwork, leatherwork, paintings, photographs and a large variety of models. Prizes are on offer and standards are always high. A visit to the Craft Fair is highly recommended.
Craft sales (sometimes advertised as craft fayres) are held periodically and are great places to seek out craft buys. As well as collecting souvenirs, take home some local materials and try out the crafts you see for yourself, an ideal reminder of your stay.