The Tin Shed is a unique creative collective of artists and makers from the north of England and Scottish Borders.

We have been showcasing art and design online and via our pop-up fairs and exhibitions since 2013, championing a wide variety of artists and makers, who make everything themselves, from scratch (or as close as possible), using traditional artisan skills in a contemporary way. This has been our ethos since we started our Journey as Love Art North East  and in fact was the very reason we launched the business. It was to create a platform and unique events, where absolutely everything we show and sell is made entirely by the person taking part - true art and makers' events.

We say no to printed merchandise and products made with bought in fabric, unless it is in collaboration with another artist/designer. Some of our makers create their own fabrics, whether this is fleece from their own sheep and alpacas, or hand making and printing their own papers or fabrics before transforming them into products. Some handmake their own glass and ceramics, even creating their own unique glazes. We have blacksmiths and wood sculptors who create artworks as well as the more functional stuff. Our ethos to support those who truly make from scratch, many who are making a living from these traditional skills, is what makes The Tin Shed stand out from most other fairs and events.

We started our journey as Love Art Northeast with one small monthly arts' event. Within a few months we had doubled in size and soon had a number of monthly and annual across events Newcastle-upon-Tyne where we were based at that time. These included a monthly art fair and annual exhibition at Newcastle Central Station, an annual fair at St Nicholas Cathedral and two-day outdoor art festivals at Grey's Monument. 

The pandemic and a house move to north Northumberland led to a new name, new website, new online artists' studios, new events and new venues. Our online studios here at The Tin Shed website have continued to grow and are now home to around 50 artists and makers from across the north of England and Scottish Borders. We don't sell directly from the Studios, which were initially set up to help keep artists in the public eye during the pandemic, but they continue to help promote artists, their work and provide direct links to their own sites and shops.

The name change to The Tin Shed came as we began to attract artists and makers from further afield, though we remain a small, independent arts' business, based in north Northumberland.

While we don't (yet) have a shed - or indeed any permanent "home" of our own apart from our website - we are very lucky to pop-up at some of the most beautiful venues, in the region's best locations, which we can call home for a day or two!

Hope you can join us at them all in 2027!

Here are a few of our wonderful venues and events over the years. (Main image - Northbound Expo 2015)