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Crafts Barbados has an interesting art and craft world that often blends Afro-Caribbean with Western influences for an especially unique impact. Other work focuses on a specific effect stemming from one of those 'worlds'. There is a vibrant art community here that embraces virtually all media, from watercolours to paper-making, and in the craft arena, you can find basketry, mahogany carvings, shell work, jewellery, fine wood and metal sculpture and pottery work.

BAGSHAWS, CHATTEL HOUSE VILLAGE, HOLETOWN

Famous in St. Lucia for many years, Peter Bagshaw’s silk screens depict lovely tropical scenes on clothing, cloth, accessories and other items. The workshop is on site and you can watch the screen printing process from Peter’s original designs.

BEST OF BARBADOS, VARIOUS LOCATIONS

This is a series of island-wide outlets that features the mass production art work of Jill Walker. Her delightful depictions of Barbadian life are found on items from prints to place mats and just about everything in between. The shops have a wide range of gift items, home furnishings and even wrapping paper with the drawings, designs or ‘Barbadian Life’ depictions all by Jill Walker. The shops also carry work by other local artists and craftspeople.

CHATTEL VILLAGE, ST. LAWRENCE GAP

The first of the two Chattel Villages, this one focuses on the island’s vibrant T shirt industry, as well as other craft areas. There is an extensive selection of locally made costume jewellery from corals and other natural materials.

CHATTEL VILLAGE, HOLETOWN

This newest ‘Village’ features a host of local craft and gift shops. In addition, it has an excellent selection of locally made T shirts, silk screen work, as well as colourful children’s toys and other novel items.

COLOURS OF DE CARIBBEAN, BRIDGETOWN

Colours of De Caribbean features a lovely collection of delicate, watercolour-like tropical designs on clothing, accessories, soft furnishings, table settings and T shirts.

DAPHNE’S SEA SHELL STUDIO, ST. PHILIP

T shirts, elegant dresses, jewellery and sea shell-covered mirrors are some of the items Daphne and her daughters fashion from real shells or their shapes. There are also such novel items as handmade Christmas ornaments and dolls, as well as shell-covered containers and shells just by themselves.

PELICAN VILLAGE, HARBOUR ROAD

A cluster of crafts shops with working studios. There is some art work in the Village, as well as a nice selection of souvenir and gift items. Among work you will see is shell work, jewellery, pottery, carving and basketry.

THE SHELL GALLERY, ST. JAMES

Offers a stunning range of sea shells, shell art and shell-embedded gift items. There is also batik, hand-painted china and ceramics that depict shell and sea life images. Most of the work is hand crafted locally.

THE YARD, QUAYSIDE

This is a fascinating little shop chock-full of interesting little delights from around the Caribbean. All hand-crafted, all quite unique, you will definitely come away with something from this shop.