Whilst at model railway exhibitions or shows I am regularly being approached by managers of other exhibitions asking if I would be interested in attending their particular show. Most of these commenting on the fact. "It's good to see something a bit different". The three fold aspect of my work: High quality specialist hand made trade (rather than mass produced factory products), demonstration of the skills involved in actually sculpting, casting and painting the items I sell, along with display cabinets with varied samples of my museum quality commissioned model making, painting and weathering; All amount to a stand with great appeal to everyone from the curious 'mummy, daddy and toddler' element right through to serious model makers, other exhibitors and demomstrators, as well as several traders, who will often approach me with regard to buying my products to stock their shops or stalls.
With the patience that can only come from a professional background in both classroom teaching and museum education, a willingness to actually talk to all the general public, even if that means answering the same one or two questions hundreds of times a day (rather than just keeping your head down and getting on with whatever your latest project is because the non-model making public is starting to bore you.) along with many special 'step by step' illustrative models prepared solely for this demonstration work, it is rare for my popular stand not to attract crowds. Furthermore, if they say a successful demonstrator is one, who by the end of the exhibition has done none of their own work but has no voice left, then the untouched 'bag of bits' along with the empty bottle of water and packet of throat sweets I bring with me probably says more about the interest in my work than I could. Indeed I've had several people, including one show organiser, tell me based upon feedback from the visitors, that in spite of not being specifically railway related (or maybe beacuse of it) my stand has been the most talked about and most popular stand in the show.
For more of an idea about the type of demonstration work I can do, and display pieces I bring to exhibitions, take a look through the varied Commissions pages on this site, as well as my various free to access on-line modelling guides. Of course, if you're organising exhibitions you'll probably know the exhibiton managers from other clubs or shows. So, if you know any of the people responsible for the shows listed in my diary page, talk to them about me, there's obviously a reason I've so far had a return invite to every show I've attended.
I would welcome invites from both local exhibition managers and those from further afield. Not necessarily just model railway shows either, as I'm doing an increasing amount of work for maritime modellers, war-games enthusiats and dolls house collectors. Although with a busy and rapidly filling diary, I obviously can't guarantee to be free for a particular show. Furthermore my willingness to attend would to a certain extent depend upon the specific show. As a specialist trader in what is very much a minority area of an already small market, I cannot always justify paying considerable expenses to attend minor shows. However, I am always willing to discuss offers, and as most exhibition managers view my stand far more as an exhibit than a trade stand many have been keen to accept terms wherby some or all of the fees I might otherwise have paid as a trader would be waived in-lieu of any expenses normally offered to exhibitors. Obviously at larger shows where I might more resonably expct to be busy with trade I am more willing to pay the accepted rate. Although offering a large range of products, their tiny nature means my whole trade stand occupies no more than a 6ft frontage, plus a little extra empty table space along side if you are interested in the demonstration work. As such many exhibition managers have beeen keen to squeeze me in, even at short notice. In one instance literrally just hours before the show was due to open.
"If you think my stand might be what your exhibition is looking for feel free to contact me to discuss your requirements.
Whilst at model railway exhibitions or shows I am regularly being approached by managers of other exhibitions asking if I would be interested in attending their particular show. Most of these commenting on the fact. "It's good to see something a bit different". The three fold aspect of my work: High quality specialist hand made trade (rather than mass produced factory products), demonstration of the skills involved in actually sculpting, casting and painting the items I sell, along with display cabinets with varied samples of my museum quality commissioned model making, painting and weathering; All amount to a stand with great appeal to everyone from the curious 'mummy, daddy and toddler' element right through to serious model makers, other exhibitors and demomstrators, as well as several traders, who will often approach me with regard to buying my products to stock their shops or stalls.
With the patience that can only come from a professional background in both classroom teaching and museum education, a willingness to actually talk to all the general public, even if that means answering the same one or two questions hundreds of times a day (rather than just keeping your head down and getting on with whatever your latest project is because the non-model making public is starting to bore you.) along with many special 'step by step' illustrative models prepared solely for this demonstration work, it is rare for my popular stand not to attract crowds. Furthermore, if they say a successful demonstrator is one, who by the end of the exhibition has done none of their own work but has no voice left, then the untouched 'bag of bits' along with the empty bottle of water and packet of throat sweets I bring with me probably says more about the interest in my work than I could. Indeed I've had several people, including one show organiser, tell me based upon feedback from the visitors, that in spite of not being specifically railway related (or maybe beacuse of it) my stand has been the most talked about and most popular stand in the show.
For more of an idea about the type of demonstration work I can do, and display pieces I bring to exhibitions, take a look through the varied 
I would welcome invites from both local exhibition managers and those from further afield. Not necessarily just model railway shows either, as I'm doing an increasing amount of work for maritime modellers, war-games enthusiats and dolls house collectors. Although with a busy and rapidly filling diary, I obviously can't guarantee to be free for a particular show. Furthermore my willingness to attend would to a certain extent depend upon the specific show. As a specialist trader in what is very much a minority area of an already small market, I cannot always justify paying considerable expenses to attend minor shows. However, I am always willing to discuss offers, and as most exhibition managers view my stand far more as an exhibit than a trade stand many have been keen to accept terms wherby some or all of the fees I might otherwise have paid as a trader would be waived in-lieu of any expenses normally offered to exhibitors. Obviously at larger shows where I might more resonably expct to be busy with trade I am more willing to pay the accepted rate. Although offering a large range of products, their tiny nature means my whole trade stand occupies no more than a 6ft frontage, plus a little extra empty table space along side if you are interested in the demonstration work. As such many exhibition managers have beeen keen to squeeze me in, even at short notice. In one instance literrally just hours before the show was due to open.