The Guild on the Road, Late 1980s

Before a permanent home, the Guild brought creativity out into the community.

Before there was a gallery… before there was a shop… there was simply a group of makers determined to share what they created.

This photograph takes us back to the late 1980s, not long after the formation of the Artisans Guild in 1988 — a time when the Guild had no permanent home of its own. Instead, members brought their work out into the community, setting up at local events, markets, and fetes.

Here, the Guild is on display at the St Michael’s Church fete — an event that would later become the forerunner to what we now know as the Abbey Medieval Festival.

Tables were set, pieces carefully arranged, and conversations flowed as visitors stopped to admire, ask questions, and connect directly with the makers behind the work. It wasn’t just about selling — it was about demonstrating skills, sharing knowledge, and building a presence.

On the left is Iska Gruber, and on the right is Bernard Bush — both part of those early days where every event mattered, and every interaction helped shape the Guild’s future.

In the centre stands a gentleman whose name, sadly, has been lost to time — but his presence here still tells part of the story. Because this moment isn’t about one person. It’s about a collective effort.

A group of people showing up, setting up, and quietly building something that would last.

There’s something special about these early scenes — no permanent walls, no established space… just passion, craftsmanship, and a willingness to be part of the community.

And in many ways, that spirit still sits at the heart of the Guild today.