Perhaps it’s something in the water, but the Isle of Wight surely contains more craftspeople per square mile than any other part of the UK.

If you want to see a rich concentration of them, head for Arreton Barns, a craft centre set in the ancient village of Arreton, between Newport and Sandown. Here you will find Diamond Isle Sculptured Glass, the brainchild of Paul Critchley, master glass sculptor. His studio offers a large viewing area, from where you can watch the hot molten glass being transformed into exquisite sculptures, usually from 11am-3pm daily. There is also a gallery where you can see the finished pieces, an eclectic range of figures, abstracts, animals and trophy designs. Paul can personalise any gifts with names and dates—ideal for weddings and birthdays. Tel: 01983 523618. www.sculptured-glass.co.uk

Close by is Rural Ways Woodcrafts, run by Donna and David Faulkner, where wooden objects made from the Island’s surplus logs and branches are on display. The couple come from a background
of conservation and tree management and have won many awards for their current work. Most of the items in the shop are small, easy-to-pack gifts, such as wine bottle holders, necklaces, candles, xylophones, egg-cups, bird feeders
and clocks.

They also carve wood to order. “Last year we dispatched bird-tables, side tables, chairs, and a dining-table 18 feet long”, Donna says, “and we recently made a Totem pole with a canoe carved on the reverse side for a local lady and erected it in her garden.” The couple can transport the goods themselves, or arrange a dispatch. Tel: 01983 533336. www.rural-ways-woodcraft.co.uk

Island Crafts is a small business run by Nina Mackett and her family. “Even my grandmother has made some of the items we sell here,” Nina says, gesturing at the interesting mixture of presents for all ages, from corn dollies, decorated ropes, hand-dressed dolls, soft toys and rubber stamps to shell earrings and handmade cards. Tel: Arreton Barns 01983 528353.

Ceramic Crafts, by Sally and Steve Moss, are fairy-like in their design, and the collection of door plaques, candle holders, oil burners, fairies and pixies, dragons and lizards, elephants and frogs, will delight all who love the fantastical. “We try to be different”, says Sally, and the proof is all around their shop. Tel: 01983 530344. www.ceramiccrafts.com. They also have a summer-only branch, which is based in Shanklin. Tel: 01983 866800.

Heading away from Arreton and down to St Lawrence, on the south coast, you’ll find Isle of Wight Studio Glass, which was established 35 years ago. Its products, such as blown shells, vases depicting flowers, paperweights, perfume bottles and mini fruits, can be found in upmarket shops all over the UK. The demonstrations attract large crowds—telephone in advance if you’re keen to catch one. Tel: 01983 853526. www.isleofwightstudioglass.com

Glory Art Glass in Melville Street, Sandown, holds daily demonstrations, but it is possible to just wander in and watch the glassmakers at work. Their shop sells a range of ethereal and wave-inspired pieces, plus some small items that are ideal for children to purchase. Tel: 01983 402515. www.gloryartglass.com

A different sort of creativity is on show at Isle of Wight Lavender, Staplehurst Grange Farm, near Newport. Visit the enormous range of lavenders from which the Abbot family derives oils to use in the many items they sell in the shop, including gorgeous-smelling bath bombs, candles, colognes and massage oils. “We’re a family concern and only diversified from farming into lavender 10 years ago,” says Jackie Abbot, one of the directors, who is proud of the many medals the firm won in 2007 (at Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and Gardeners’ World Live, to name a few). There are also lavender plants for sale, which make lovely, lasting souvenirs. Tel: 01983 825272. www.lavender.co.uk

Quay Arts, a hub for artistic happenings in Newport, offers constantly changing exhibitions of art, crafts and sculpture, as well as classes in various disciplines. Here you will find beautiful, pure-silk scarves, designed and made on the Island, jewellery, ceramics, cards and paintings. In the evening and some afternoons you can enjoy jazz concerts, poetry readings and other entertainment. See the website for details. Tel: 01983 822490. www.quayarts.org.

Nicola Gibbs, locally famous as “the Godshill painter”, has operated Christmas Cottage for over 10 years (so called because she took occupation on Christmas Eve and felt the place needed a new name). In the courtyard in front of the shop stands Nicola’s hand-painted gipsy caravan, on the steps of which she can often be found painting, and three smaller caravans struggling for space among plants and garden ornaments.

The shop is a display space for her paintings of Godshill, some available from as little as £6 each, and for a selection of unique gifts, including jewellery and clothes. She is currently setting up a new art studio and gallery at Chale, which she hopes will be up-and-running this year. There will be teaching/instruction available via the website: www.christmascottagegodshill.co.uk

As a major yachting centre, it’s not surprising that the Island is home to a unique jewellery company, Nautical Gold, where a team of craftsmen design exquisite maritime-themed jewellery for men and women, including brooches, bracelets, cufflinks, tiepins, necklaces and pendants. The team is headed by Will Souter, now in his sixties, a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths.

The pieces are available at top jewellers Benzies of Cowes, but a full bespoke service is also offered from the studio. “We get a lot of yachting people, especially during Cowes Week, who often want a special memento to give to their guests, friends and crews, for example their flag set in gold—a brooch for the ladies, cufflinks for the men, that sort of thing,” Will explains.

Nautical Gold is famous for historic bespoke items, such as the sterling silver replica of Sir Francis Chichester’s ketch, Gipsy Moth, and the replica of America, the schooner that inaugurated the America’s Cup in 1851, which was presented to the Royal Yacht Squadron on its 150th Anniversary. Tel: 01983 618846. www.nauticalgold.co.uk

From ketches to cutlery—another place you’ll find unusual and rather special gifts is Handmade Silver Spoons. Silver spoons are both decorative and useful, and will last for generations—in fact, the more they are used, the more the patina develops. The company creates many one-off designs—for dessert, honey, christenings; teaspoons with intricate leaf patterns, condiment spoons inlaid with pearls—and as each handcrafted utensil is made without a drawing, no two are ever the same. Available at Theodosia in St. Thomas’s Square, Newport, which also sells a collection of exquisitely wrought silver jewellery. Tel: 01983 525844. www.handmadesilverspoons.co.uk

A visit to the Island without a trip to Isle of Wight Pearl is unthinkable. This vast shop on the Military Road, Brighstone, offers something to suit all ages, whether you fancy South Sea, freshwater, Tahitian or black pearls. The designers can even make a piece to order for you, using your own special pearl picked from an oyster in one of the on-site tanks. Guided tours of the site are available, enabling you to learn about the little gems, their history and the fascinating cultivation process. Tel: 01983 740352. www.iowpearl.co.uk

Boneidols is the natty name of Clare Leonty’s company, which melds precious metals with dinosaur fossils to create stunning jewellery. Clare picks up the fossils, as well as shells and stones, on her daily dog walks along the beaches at Brook and Brighstone, then transforms them into refined, delicate jewellery incorporating platinum and diamonds. “I’m offering a slice of natural history to the wearer”, she says. “From dinosaur to haute couture. Top celebs such as Peter Stringfellow are very keen on it.” Tel: 01983 522455. www.boneidols.com

The Island boasts a veritable palette of talented artists, many of whom welcome visitors to their homes or studios—but please phone first. They include: Gwyneth & Peter Jones of Bembridge—Peter specialises in Island seascapes and landscapes and Gwyneth in quilts, cushions and wall hangings (01983 873656). Sally Woodford of Bembridge uses photographs and objects collected on beach walks to inspire the form, texture and pattern of her hand-built clay pieces and wall tiles (01983 873339). A more traditional approach to land- and seascapes is taken by Kate Bolton of Brading who has a studio just off the High Street. Tel: 01983 405209. www.wightwatercolour.co.uk

Anne Chambers of Newport offers photographs, printmaking, cards, fabric and paper bowls (01983 531641); and mosaics combining modern and traditional materials are on offer from Helen Goodman of Cowes (01983 247715; www.helensmosaics.co.uk). Three unusual painters are Julie Nye of Cowes who specialises in limited editions of jazz portraits (01983 200892; www.jazzportraitgallery.com); Nelly Verdier of Cowes, whose paintings of generously shaped women are done with a humorous eye (01983 247526), and Melanie Swan of Newport, an icon painter in the Orthodox tradition (01983 530894). If they have whetted your appetite for more, pick up the booklet The Isle of Wight Arts Directory from outlets such as Quay Arts or Theodosia, or log on to www.isleofwightart.com.

While not dealing in local creations, Oasis, on Carpenter’s Road, Brading, is choc-full of dramatic and unusual Balinese crafts, such as hand-carved teak furniture and sculptures, which can be transported anywhere in the UK. Luxuries to liven up your home include striking canvas pictures, silk curtains, cushions, linens, candles, glassware and table ornaments sourced mainly from Asia. Oasis operates a fair trade policy—they do not barter, but pay craftsmen a fair price, so the customer can rest assured that no one has been exploited. Tel: 01983 613760. www.oasis-iow.com