Design Diary - April 2011

Dates for your diary: exhibitions, sales, fairs, courses and events you should know about in London and the UK.

The London Antique Rug & Textile Fair (until 3 April), The Showroom, 93 Penfold Street, off Church Street, Marylebone, London, NW8 - Still time to get to this new specialist fair dedicated to antique rug and textile art. View and purchase items originating from the Anatolia, the Caucasus, Persia, Central Asia, India and China as well as from Europe and Africa, and from all periods up to the early 20th century. www.larta.net

GROW ! (until late April), Selfridges, London - An unusual showcase devoted to urban gardening, to inspire even those surrounded by concrete to get creative with their green fingers. There's an installation by London's best-known guerrilla gardener Richard Reynolds, and even lavender pillows for sale, made from his huge lavender patch on Westminster Bridge Road. www.selfridges.com, www.guerrillagardening.org

Chelsea Art Fair (1-3 April), Chelsea Town Hall, King's Road, London SW3 - Quality contemporary and 20th century work, including three-dimensional works of all kinds. Prices from £200 to £20,000. For a free e-ticket, go to www.chelseaartfair.org

John Makepeace - Enriching the language of Furniture (until 15 April), Somerset House, London. This renowned furniture maker's first solo exhibition. The show brings together 25 pieces from public and private collections in the UK and abroad (some are for sale). www.somersethouse.org.uk

Newark Antique & Collectors Fair (7-8 April), Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground, Winthorpe, Notts - Europe's largest antiques event with up to 4000 stalls spread over 84 acres. www.iacf.co.uk

Landscape Show (13-14 April), Olympia, London - A brand new trade exhibition for all those involved with interior & exterior landscaping and landscape gardening. Manufacturers and suppliers of everything from cut flowers and vases through to pots and flag stones, conservatories and water features will be exhibiting. www.landscapeshow.co.uk

The Cotswolds Decorative Antiques & Fine Art Fair (15-17 April), Westonbirt School, Nr Tetbury, Glos - This well-established fair has gone ‘decorative' and is shifting the emphasis onto antiques for interiors. www.cooperevents.com

Printmakers 2011 (15 April-13 May), Tinsmiths, Tinsmiths Alley, 81 High Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire - Tinsmiths are known for their lighting, fabrics and accessories, but they also promote UK printmakers. This show will feature limited edition works by four artists, Paul Farrell, Sarah Chrisp, John Richardson and Sarah Young, using a variety of printmaking techniques. www.shop.tinsmiths.co.uk

Adams Antiques Fair (17 April), Horticultural Hall, Elverton St, London SW1 - The biggest monthly antiques fair in central London. www.adamsantiquesfairs.com

London Original Print Fair (19-21 April), Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington Gardens - The longest-running specialist print fair in the world is celebrating its 26th year. It covers all eras of printmaking from the early woodcuts of Dürer and his contemporaries, to the graphic work of contemporary artists such as Hockney and Hirst. www.londonprintfair.com

Festival of Britain 60th Anniversary (22 April-4 Sept), Southbank Centre - A four-month celebration will be held here, where much of the original festival was staged. Stop off at the shop for commemorative books and products. www.shop.southbankcentre.co.uk

Grand Designs Live London (30 April- 8 May), ExCeL, London's Victoria Docks - This vast show - with Kevin McCloud as event presenter - has over 500 exhibitors and is packed with products, information, services and advice - whether for self-build projects or refurbishment. www.granddesignslive.com Ticket hotline: 0844-2097349

The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900 (until 17 July), V&A Museum, London SW7 - The first major exhibition devoted to the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century brings together 300 objects and paintings. The rise of Aestheticism in painting was paralleled in the decorative arts by a new and increasingly widespread interest in the decoration of houses. The idea of 'The House Beautiful' became a touchstone of cultured life. www.vam.ac.uk

1st April 2011