A NORTH-EAST business woman has come up with a novel way to help local artists and crafts people secure more work in the region.

Eurocrafts (Northumbria) has set up a regional cluster of more than 300 artists and craftsmen, specialising in gold, silver, ceramics, leather, wood, glass and textiles.

Angela Colbridge set up her business six years ago, when she saw a gap in the market for helping highly skilled "maker designers" sell their products.

The cluster covers an area that operates from the Tweed to the Tees, and is unique as far as Angela knows. She said: "A lot of the maker-designers are micro businesses, and to market their products effectively, costs a lot of time and money.

"This is where I come in. I can exhibit their products on their behalf, whether it be at a show or an exhibition and visit companies to promote their work. There is no fee involved, they only pay if they sell their work or if they wish to exhibit at a major show.

"For example, it works out much cheaper if they each contribute towards the cost of attending an exhibition, which they probably wouldn't be able to afford to do on their own. We are also able to take a larger space, so the impact is greater."

The company recently joined the North-East Chamber of Commerce, and is hoping that its 5, 000 members will help to open a few more doors.

She said: "I've worked with a number of companies which have commissioned work for a one-off special occasion.

"For example, one company commissioned a local artist to paint a picture of the board of directors.

"I'm hoping that membership of such a high-profile organisation like the Chamber, with its excellent contacts, will enable me to market the work even more widely."

As well as events and other marketing opportunities, it is building its own website - www.eurocrafts.co.uk

Angela said: "There must be many occasions when someone needs a special presentation or gift and finds it very difficult and frustrating to source.

"Now they can do that from their own desk top.

"It also means that this new technology has given these micro businesses the opportunity to access those who have an appreciation of the work that is being made here in the region."

Susan Pender, membership recruitment executive for the North-East Chamber of Commerce's County Durham office, said: "Apart from the usual benefits of joining such an organisation, networking is very important especially in such a specialist area as this."