Festive Rebellion: The North East Creatives Christmas Gift Guide 2025
Updated 9 December 2025. Please check availability and last order dates with suppliers.
As Small Business Saturday approaches on 6 December, we’re refusing the frantic, faceless churn of mass-produced shopping. Instead, the NECF community is standing up for something better with the launch of the Festive Rebellion. We want a a festive season that:
Fuels local talent
Strengthens our cultural ecology
Supports North East artists, makers and small creative businesses
This guide was shaped directly by artists, makers and freelancers across our region. Every link is a real person. Every purchase sustains skills, stories, and the cultural backbone of the North East.
This is what a Festive Rebellion looks like.
The guide is split into artform/service categories, and will be updated weekly throughout December. The information in this guide is gathered from the Saturday Showcase thread, which is posted in the North East Cultural Freelancers Facebook Group each Saturday.
A charcoal pencil drawing of Marden Quarry reflected in a droplet, by artist Karen Ruffles. Photo courtesy of Karen Ruffles.
Visual Art & Illustration
Louise Bradley – Original paintings and prints rooted in the landscapes we love.
Alex Sickling – Etsy – Playful, characterful ceramics that refuse to be ordinary.
Josie Brookes – Graphic, bright, unapologetically joyful artwork.
Sofia Barton Art – Etsy – Culturally inspired, richly patterned art and illustration.
Moonkwayk Studio – Etsy – Contemporary, imaginative illustrated prints.
MSOE Boutique – Etsy – Angel and soul-inspired art, available as prints or original commissions.
Pink Collar Gallery – A curated shop championing women artists from the North East.
The Find Ouseburn – Stocking 24 local artists and makers; a hub for unique gifts.
Appliqué Originals – Handmade jewellery and mixed-media art by Jane Smallcombe.
Powder Butterfly – Newcastle-inspired ceramics and local keepsakes.
Drawing in Dark – Karen Ruffles – Gothic, otherworldly charcoal drawings, wildlife and tiny landscape artworks including local scenes.
Lindsey McLaren – Oil Painter – Impressionist-style paintings, landscapes, still life and limited edition giclée prints.
Michelle Taylor Ward - a Teesside based intuitive artist, who sells their art globally.
Greener Lavelle (Kim McDermottroe) – Limited-edition prints, illustration and whimsical character design from a celebrated costume, puppet and visual artist.
Simone Rudolphi – Striking documentary photography from frontline climate justice, BLM, democracy and solidarity movements; prints, cyanotype workshops and mentoring available.
Crafts, Textiles & Handmade Gifts
That Design Studio – Northern humour on cards and coasters: art with attitude.
Pacecraft Creations – Etsy – Handmade gifts, décor and craft pieces.
Michelle Gibson (Polly & Eve / Daydream Sewing & Crafts) – Harris Tweed bags, accessories and sewing class gift vouchers.
The Phoenix Green – Patchwork quilts, hand knits and original paintings by Kate Stuart.
Yvette Ja Studio – Origami maps, hand-bound books and craft kits.
Jo Lamoureux Ceramics – Etsy – Handmade ceramic pieces perfect for gifting.
Mayfli – A curated marketplace connecting you to independent makers and small creative businesses.
Louise Robinson Ceramics – Hartlepool-based ceramicist offering taster sessions, classes and handmade tableware.
A Harris Tweed bag made by Michelle Gibson of Daydream Sewing & Crafts / Polly & Eve
Photography, Books & Publications
Maria Maza Photography – Fine art photography prints featuring Northern landscapes and textures.
Seen.By. Zine – Documentary photography zine; Issue 2 celebrates Toon fans and Newcastle culture.
Jodie Beardmore Photography – Art prints and self-published photo books.
Crisp Sandwich Studio – Gift vouchers for creative headshots or actor/musician portrait sessions.
Amy Lord – The Disappeared – A speculative novel rooted in the North East.
Rue Collinge – How to Train Your Dragon pamphlet – Signed copies with a hand-designed stamp.
Tales in Sombre Tones CIC (Karen Ruffles) – Gothic horror anthology, cards and merch raising funds for accessible arts events.
The Roaring Lion Newcastle – Fiercely independent publishing house amplifying bold, necessary voices.
The Crack magazine - buy someone a subscription to this stalwart of the North East’s culture sector and they can have it delivered straight to their door.
Creative Experiences & Workshops
Tall Tales Mysteries – Immersive murder mystery experiences, themed dining events, and at-home whodunnits.
Aerial Classes (Dance City, Lynn Campbell) – High-flying creative experiences for the adventurous.
Tabbey Bobbin Workshops (Sarah Harrington) – Sewing and textile workshops in a new town-centre studio.
Rolling Audio – Grassroots Studio Sessions – Affordable 4-hour recording, mixing, or production sessions for musicians and audio creatives.
The Play Edit - Creative workshops for adults and children such as wreath-making, line dancing and crafting
Simone Rudolphi (Workshops) – Cyanotype workshops, mentoring and photowalks.
Music, Audio & Media
Steve Luck — Homecoming
Listen via:
Bandcamp (support artists directly): steveluck.bandcamp.com/album/homecoming
Streaming: steveluck.ffm.to/homecoming
CDs & sheet music for meaningful gifting.
Deep Grain Studios – Stockton (Dan Higgins) -Studio offering drum tuition, recording days, videography, mixing, podcast support — all designed to nurture local talent.
Rolling Audio Studios - Recording studio experience gift vouchers
Business Support for Creatives
HVA – Creative Business Survival Kit, Hannah Hannon
A resource pack to help creative business owners streamline admin, organise systems, and step into 2026 feeling in control. Perfect for freelancers, producers, performers, and emerging companies.
Join the Festive Rebellion
When you buy from a creative worker, you’re not just gifting an object or experience.
You’re investing in:
A more equitable cultural sector
Fairer freelance futures
Local talent and local pride
A North East that values creativity
This Christmas, let’s choose rebellion over routine.
Let’s fund artists, not conglomerates.
Let’s keep creativity alive, loud and local.
Shop small. Shop cultural. Shop North East.
Support NECF this Christmas
North East Cultural Freelancers isn’t currently core-funded. By getting a paid membership, you’re helping us to continue our work to support cultural freelancers and the wider cultural sector in the North East.
With the money you choose to contribute we will:
commission and creare content, advice, resources, ad training for all members
create events, conferences and networking events for all members
commission artists and creatives to respond to the ever-changing landscape
improve our infrastructure, technology and website
create opportunities to support the North East freelancer economy
strengthen the profile and reputation of NECF
We have differing membership models for both freelancers and organisations.
